HII Christens US Navy’s Newbuild Nuclear-Powered Aircraft-Carrier ‘John F. Kennedy’

At the celebration ceremony of the new nuclear powered aircraft carrier of the US Navy and the American hero after whom the ship is named, Huntington Ingalls Industries’ christened the John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) at the Newport News Shipbuilding division of the company. Newport News Shipbuilding division.

“We are here to celebrate America’s military might and the brawn behind it,” said Jennifer Boykin, president of Newport News Shipbuilding. “We are here to celebrate innovation, pride and perseverance that is the American way, and we are here to honor the patriot who inspired it. I speak for every Newport News shipbuilder — 25,000 strong — and the thousands of suppliers across the nation who support us when I say that we are proud to build John F. Kennedy.”

A a bottle of American sparkling wine was smashed across the bow by the former U.S. ambassador Caroline Kennedy, the ship’s sponsor and daughter of President Kennedy to christen the ship. In her speech she also mentioned about christening the first aircraft carrier that is named after her father.

“This ship will represent the ideals he lived by – courage, sacrifice and belief in freedom – and it will help make real his vision of a more just America and a more peaceful world,” Kennedy said. “I’m so proud to be sponsor of this ship and to join with all of you to bring her to life. I look forward to being part of her odyssey and of her extended family. Most of all, I hope she will carry my father’s spirit with her as she sails, his leadership in wartime, his courage in crisis and his commitment to the hard and steady work of building peace.”

The ceremony was attended by over 20,000 including members of the Virginia congressional delegation U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and U.S. Rep. Robert C. Scott, who both offered remarks; and U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria. Other speakers included former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Adm. Frank Caldwell, director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.

James Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition; Vice Adm. Thomas Moore, commander of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA); Adm. Christopher W. Grady, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command; and Capt. Todd Marzano, the ship’s prospective commanding officer also participated in the ceremony.

Adm. Tom Fargo (U.S. Navy, Ret.), HII chairman of the board, and Mike Petters, HII president and CEO, were in attendance along with the employees of Newport who are building Kennedy, Kennedy’s crew, Navy personnel and other government officials. The ceremony was also attended by former sailors who served on the first USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) that was built and christened at Newport News in May 1967.

“As we observe ‘a date which will live in infamy’ on this 78th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, this magnificent vessel we see before us today is a symbol of our nation’s strength, of our technical achievements and of the critical service our men and women in uniform provide for this nation and the entire world,” said Charles Frank Bolden Jr., a retired U.S. Marine Corps major general and former NASA administrator, and astronaut who served as the principal speaker. “This carrier is also a tangible example of the legacy of a great man who risked his own life volunteering for hazardous duty in the Pacific during World War II in the wake of Pearl Harbor, and later came to embody a time of optimism that he translated into a vision for taking humans beyond the sphere of our planet.”

Since February 2011, when the construction of ship started, over 5,000 shipbuilders have helped in Kennedy’s construction and suppliers from 46 states in the country have provided with specialized parts, skilled services and support to aircraft carrier production. After christening, the vessel will be introduced in the James River and then moved to a pier where the ship’s outfitting and testing will be done. It is scheduled to be delivered to the U.S. Navy in 2022.

“President John F. Kennedy taught us that deterrence will always cost less than war,” said Thomas Modly, acting Secretary of the Navy. “The purpose of our military, including this warship that bears his name, must be to ensure our nation’s commitment to peace and prosperity for all nations of the world.”

 

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New Low-Sulphur Bunker Oil Popular In Rotterdam

The new low-sulphur bunker oil VLSFO (Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil with a maximum 0.5% sulphur) has become very famous in the largest bunker port of Europe, Rotterdam.

Half of the entire bunker in November was for VLSFO. This could be seen by the bunkering notifications that came on the TimeToBunker App of the Rotterdam Authority.

From the 1st of January, only fuels with maximum sulphur content of 0.5% can be used in the sea going ships in the oceans. The present maximum limit is 3.5%. High sulphur fuel can be used only on vessels that have scrubbers installed in them.

TimeToBunker App

According to the TimeToBunker App, the sales of VLSFO has gone up dramatically in the last two months: September 1,700 tonnes, October 32,000 tonnes and November 95,000 tonnes. This indicates that growth of the percentage of VLSFO within total fuel oil sales has increased from 1.8% in September to 51.6% in November. Only TimeToBunker can make this separation on the basis of sulphur content in fuel oil.

In the standard bunkering notifications

The sulphur level of fuel oil is not stated in standard bunkering notifications. However, Ronald Backers, the Port Authority’s bunkering expert, suspects that this trend is representative for all bunker sales in Rotterdam: “The TimeToBunker App has been used since February and is a huge success. Over a third of all bunkering notifications run via the app. I see no reason to assume that companies that still make standard bunkering notifications have completely different clients with completely different fuel oil purchasing behaviour.”

Severe regulations prevail on shipping on the North Sea and 0.1% sulphur can be present in bunker oil. However, many shipping companies

Although even stricter sulphur regulations apply to shipping on the North Sea and bunker oil may only contain 0.1% sulphur, many shipping companies in Rotterdam are ordering VLSFO, because they also sail in other continents.

 

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Dream Cruises Launches New Series Of Universal Class Ships & Lays Keel For Second Global Class Ship

The keel laying ceremony of the Global Class’ second 208,000 GT Dream Cruises ship took place at MV WERFTEN in Rostock. The midship was made here.
Only two weeks ago, the passenger ship section of the ‘Global Dream’ was transferred from Rostock to the covered dock to Wismar. It was the largest portion of the ship with a length of 235 meters and a height of 20 decks that has been ever towed.
The keel laying ceremony of Global 2 was attended by the guests of the state and federal government, managing directors and media representatives from Germany and Asia, Minister of Economic Affairs Harry Glawe, Genting Hong Kong Chairman and CEO Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Deputy Managing Director Hui Lim, Group President Colin Au, Genting Cruise Lines President Kent Zhu, Dream Cruises President Michael Goh and MV-WERFTEN CEO Peter Fetten.
According to the tradition, lucky coins were placed by all the participants on the Pallung before the 470-ton section was lowered by the 95 meter high gantry crane.
“We are here for the keel laying of the second ship of the Global Class,” said Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay. “But more importantly, we start designing and building a new series of ships, the Universal Class. The first ship will be delivered in late 2022. ”
Cruises account for about 2.5% of the entire travel sector. The vessels are so designed, constructed and opearted by the Universal Class so as to make the cruise feel like a vacation on land. The ships with a gross size of 88,000 has the capacity to hold 2,000 passengers and provide all the facilities of bigger cruises, without the congestion of more than 5,000 passengers on board. The Universal Class ships will be operated by Genting. It will also do so for hotel brands that wish to enter the cruise industry but cannot due to construction constraints.
“Large hotel brands are always mindful of their brand image, so the Universal Class ships are perfect because they guarantee quality” Made in Germany “. They will meet the highest safety and environmental standards, including LNG propulsion, “said Peter Fetten, Managing Director of MV WERFTEN. “After delivery of the two Global Class ships, the largest ships ever built in Germany, we will bring our experience in the construction of universal ships. MV WERFTEN will be fully employed by 2024. ”
Economics Minister Harry Glawe said: “The keel laying is another milestone in MV WERFTEN’s ambitious cruise shipbuilding program. The employees master the complex challenges and develop successfully; They secure thousands of jobs, increase added value and contribute to economic stability in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. ”

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Human Rights At Sea Receives Video Message Of Solidarity From 11 Seafarers In 8 Languages

On World Human Rights Day 2019, eleven seafarers from the shipping industry showed their solidarity and support in a video message in 8 different languages to the Human Rights at Sea and its work for the development of the Geneva Declaration on Human Rights at Sea which is an online platform that has been launched officially.

“I am a sailor and I stand up for human rights at sea” was the message.

CEO, David Hammond, said: “As the clock passed midnight in the UK, a video message came through from a crew in South America thanking us for our charitable work and issuing a joint and unified message of solidarity for human rights at sea on this key day in the human rights calendar.”

Human Rights at Sea thanked and appreciated the crew for their support and engagement in their work. It also thanked its partners at the International Maritime Federation and the Chairman, Captain Sanjay Prashar, for his constant support from India.

 

Reference: humanrightsatsea

 

 

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HUBER+SUHNER Launches Lightest And Most Compact Cable, Revolutionising Offshore Connectivity

Fire-resistant RADOX® OFL (Oil & Gas Flexible Lightweight) cable solution has been launched by HUBER+SUHNER in order to offer a safer method to the offshore industry for the reduction of platform weight.

The RADOX OFL cables are lightweight and have a compact design which helps in decreasing the weight and reduces the space occupied by 60% in comparison to other available cables.

The small bend radius and thin wall of the cables-that is half the standard size of cables- decreases the stripping time by 60%, thereby making installation easier and quicker. By eliminating the problems of space and weight, it can help the industries and offshore facilities save hundred thousands of dollars in structural design.

The RADOX OFL cable is featured with high fire-resistant and low smoke halogen free (LSFH) that helps it to provide great performance in harsh outdoor environments and offshore industrial applications.The RADOX OFL cable is oil, mud and hydraulic oil resistant which is in accordance with the highest standard NEK606 Cat. a-d.

Apart from this, 120°C sheath and 145°C core temperature limit is also provides by the RADOX technology. This gives it an expected life which is eight times more than the standard 90°C offshore cables. With RADOX technology, electron beams are used to cross-link the polymers in the insulation of the wires and in the cable sheath. This change helps the cables with a high level of resistance to mechanical, chemical, temperature and weather influences.

Frank Thorn, Head of Market Unit Industry, Low Frequency division of HUBER+SUHNER said: “The offshore industry presents challenging conditions, including high temperatures, oil, chemicals and UV radiation. This means cables have to be robust and stand the test of time. The latest RADOX OFL cable does exactly this, while also reducing installation time and reducing weight, making it a valuable investment that can future-proof offshore connectivity.”

Due the smaller 3D diameter of the RADOX OFL cable, smaller cable accessories like smaller connectors and trays can also be used which will reduce space, weight and cost even more. The cable is not only appropriate for monitoring and control but also for sensor applications on offshore platforms.

Thorn added: “Offshore applications require durable, flexible and reliable cables that can operate seamlessly and withstand harsh environments to avoid deterioration. We developed the RADOX OFL cable with weight, space and cost in mind, creating a solution which is resilient, cost-effective and quick to install. As a result, the RADOX OFL cables will show no sign of any brittle breakage even after 10 to 12 years, unlike conventional rubber cables.”

 

Reference: HUBERSUHNER

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Höegh Autoliners Fights Corruption Through Collaboration

The shipping industry is linked with all the sectors in some form or the other. With the companies all around the world being global, shipping has become an important part of their routine business.

Thus, it can bring changes in the entire world. However, this also makes shipping industry the most vulnerable to challenges that are faced by the world like corruption.

According to the United Nations, “every year $1 trillion is paid in bribes while an estimated $2.6 trillion are stolen annually through corruption – a sum equivalent to more than 5 per cent of the global GDP.” Corruption is one of the biggest hurdle that comes in between the development of the economy and society in the world.

Joining forces to stop corruption

Corruption largely shows the missing transparency in Governing National systems. Corruption has become a part of the routine business, thus one cannot fight against it alone. In order to take a step against corruption in the maritime sector, Höegh Autoliners, Maersk Line and other shipowners created the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) in 2012.

Maria Hempel, Chief Compliance Officer explains, “The MACN network was designed with the idea of “strength in numbers”. When members establish strong relationships with each other, they feel more empowered again corruption, and can speak out, as they have support from those inside the network. Through joint action, MACN members work in collaboration with local authorities to develop solutions that are both beneficial to all and realistic to implement.”

Collective action in Suez

Corruption is very common in the Suez Canal because there is a consistent demand among the Captains and crew for “facilitation payments” for the passage or for routine services.

In order to overcome this issue, in December 2015, the “Say No” campaign was started by MACN.

Maria continues, “In order for our captains to be able to say no to demands for facilitation payments, they must feel supported by strong company policies and values. With the implementation of the campaign, we see that our vessels sailing the Suez Canal have had smoother transits. With the assistance of our agents, and support from the Company, the Captains find it easier to refuse demands and avoid situations of duress and threats on board.”

Collective action in Nigeria

Lagos, Nigeria is yet another port where requests for facilitation payments were received by Höegh Autoliners.

MACN partnered with UN Development Program (UNDP) and launched its first collective action project in the country in 2012. MACN developed the project further in 2018 by bringing together the international maritime industry and the local authorities of Nigeria for implementing peaceful port and vessel clearance procedures. This enhancement project involved the training of 1,000 government officials in the ports of Lagos (Apapa), Lagos (Tin Can), Calabar, Onne, and Port-Harcourt.

Maria says, “With the implementation of the project in Nigeria we have experienced an improved ease of operations with our Captains and crew finding it easier to refute requests for unjustified payments from officials.”

Continuous engagement

Höegh Autoliners work in various regions where corruption is a major problem.

Maria continues, “Even though we see many improvements in regards to facilitation payments globally, our efforts have to continue if we are to have a corruption free industry. The aim is to stop the demands. Working with MACN, provides a safe forum for engagement. Members can share best practices, create awareness of industry challenges, and collectively develop solutions for tackling bribes, facilitation payments and other forms of corruption.”

 

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MSC Becomes First Major Shipping Line To Use 30% Biofuel Blends

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) announced the usage of biofuel in its ships that are calling in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

After completing successful trials with biofuel this year, MSC has decided to go ahead with bunkering of biofuel blends regularly.

10% blend fuel were used in the trials. Now, the higher 30% blends are being used by the company for trials. “We are pleased to see these trials completed successfully and look forward to now using biofuel on our vessels as a routine matter.

When using such blended fuel, we can expect an estimated 15-20% reduction in absolute CO2 emissions,” said Bud Darr, Executive Vice President, Maritime Policy & Government Affairs, MSC Group. “The potential CO2 reduction in the bio component of these fuels could reach 80-90%, which we will monitor and confirm over time”, he continues.

The use of responsibly sourced biofuels will offer an alternate option to the shipping industry in order to meet the CO2 emission reduction level 2030 set by IMO. This will also be a major step towards the achievement of 2050 levels. Emissions can be reduced and the quality of air can be improved massively with the use of biofuel on container ships.

MSC is committed for the implementation of plans that will help modernize its eco friendly and efficient fleet by the largest container shipping investment program in the industry.

 

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