AAF International

The world’s seafarers are set to see their monthly minimum wages rise incrementally over the course of the next three years.The change is the result of a a resolution agreed by a subcommittee of the the International Labor Organization's (ILO) Joint Maritime Commission (JMC).The meeting agreed to raise the ILO minimum basic wage for an able seafarer to US$658 as of January 1, 2023. The rate will be increased to US$666 as of January 1, 2024 and to US$673 as of January 1, 2025.The subcommittee also agreed that the figure of US $673 as of March 1, 2022 should be used as the basis for recalculation purposes and for discussion at the next meeting of the subcommittee, in 2025.

The U.S. Navy is moving full speed ahead toward widespread adoption of autonomous unmanned surface vessels, having recently established a dedicated Unmanned Surface Vessel Division (USVDIV).Cmdr. Jeremiah Daley assumed command of the newly established USVDIV One during a ceremony on May 13. “To meet the challenges of the 21st Century, we must continue to innovate the surface force,” Daley said. “USVDIV One will accelerate the delivery of credible and reliable unmanned systems in conjunction with increasingly capable manned platforms into the fleet.”USVDIV One will oversee medium and large unmanned surface vessels including the Sea Hunter and its sister vessel, the Sea Hawk.

Callan Marine's newest fleet asset, the 28” cutter suction dredge (CSD) General Bradley, was christened in Morgan City, La. on Tuesday. The General Bradley will immediately commence work at the Port Bolivar Ferry Landing for the Texas Department of Transportation.At 341 feet in length and 54 feet wide, General Bradley has a maximum digging depth of 60 feet and a dredge pipe diameter of 28” inches. Constructed at the Halimar Shipyard in Morgan City, La., the diesel-electric driven General Bradley is equipped with three ABC 12DZC engines that supply 9,260 horsepower combined. It also features advanced production automation and monitoring systems.

Expedition cruising company Lindblad Expeditions will deploy Marine Learning Systems’ online training platform, MarineLMS, fleetwide, following a successful pilot period. According to Marine Learning Systems, online training at sea has always been a challenge for operators due to the unique and challenging maritime operating and training context, especially in the remote locations where Lindblad Expeditions often operates. The Vancouver, B.C. based company has developed its training platform specifically for vessel operators to address the maritime context.

e1 Marine said it has appointed David Lim to the newly created role of vice president of application engineering. Based in Asia, David will focus on engineering efforts for e1 Marine’s marine fuel cell generators and providing product support alongside the other partner companies.Previously vice president of business development at partner company, Element 1, David Lim has an impressive background in the product and business development, and production of renewable energy products including fuel cell technology such as fuel reformers, and fuel cell system products. Within this role he also provided consultative technical advice to e1 Marine’s team prior to joining.