National Shipping Co. of Saudi Arabia

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has taken several steps to streamline and simplify the Federal Ship Financing Program under Chapter 537 of Title 46 of the U.S. Code (commonly referred to as Title XI). The Title XI program provides for a full faith and credit guarantee by the United States government to promote the growth and modernization of the U.S. merchant marine and U.S. shipyards. The Title XI Program supports U.S. shipowners obtaining new vessels from, or reconstructing and reconditioning vessels in, U.S. shipyards. It also aids U.S. shipyards in modernizing their facilities, including floating drydocks, barges or vessels used for vessel construction, reconstruction or repair.

Fairbanks Morse acquired Breco International Inc., a diesel engine repair and rebuilding service provider. The move expands service markets for Fairbanks Morse with commercial marine, oil and gas and locomotive, and will add service support for customers.“Breco has an established track record of being customer-focused and operationally efficient and we are pleased to bring the Breco team and assets into Fairbanks Morse,” said George Whittier, CEO of Fairbanks Morse. “This acquisition opens up service markets for Fairbanks Morse and we intend to continue Breco’s business model of providing fast, cost-competitive solutions to customers.”Breco International Inc.

Northstar Marine, Inc. has finalized the integration of River Services (wholly owned by Northstar Marine, Inc.) a Philadelphia based marine service provider. River Services is now a new division of Northstar, and will operate as Northstar River Services.River Services was founded in 2013 to provide professional marine services in and around the Port of Philadelphia which includes launch, crew boat, and tug and barge operations.Phillip Risko, is the President and CEO of Northstar Marine, Inc., a marine services company that has been operating in the tri-state area since 1990.

Israel received its most advanced warship on Wednesday, describing the German-made vessel dubbed "Shield" as a bulwark for vulnerable Mediterranean gas rigs as tensions with Tehran soar over the assassination of a top Iranian nuclear scientist.The Saar-6 corvette that docked in Haifa port, and three of the same model to follow next year, will bring to 15 the number of missile boats deployed by an Israeli navy which, while small, carries out missions as far away as the Red Sea and the Gulf.Israel also wants to protect off-shore natural gas fields close to Lebanon, an old foe with which it has held so far fruitless U.S.-mediated maritime border talks.

Kristal Ambrose, a PD candidate at the World Maritime University, is the recipient of the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize 2020. The award is the world’s foremost environmental prize and honors outstanding environmental activism through community and citizen participation on critical sustainability issues facing the planet.Ambrose founded the Bahamas Plastic Movement in 2013 to develop solutions to plastic pollution and to educate young people on the importance of a clean and healthy ocean.