Maritime Vessels Directory

Testing, inspection and certification (TIC) services company Bureau Veritas (BV) announced Alex Gregg-Smith has joined the BV group as Marine & Offshore Country Chief Executive, China.Reporting to Claude Maillot, Senior Vice President North Asia Zone, Gregg-Smith is based in Shanghai."We are delighted to have Alex back onboard with BV – and in such an important role," Maillot said. "China is so central to our activities, both for new construction and ships in service, so we needed someone with the expert background in classification that Alex provides. His executive experience in ship management and shipbuilding provides additional critical commercial and technical experience and expertise.

CMA CGM Halts Timber Exports from Gambia Over Rosewood Risk

41 minutes ago

Shipping group CMA CGM said on Wednesday it was suspending timber exports from Gambia due to suspected trafficking of rosewood in the West African country.Demand for furniture in China has led to widespread felling of rosewood in West Africa in recent years, despite the variety being protected under the United Nations' Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)."Following several suspicions that undeclared rosewood may have been part of cargo shipments from Gambia, the group has decided to halt its timber exports from the country until further notice," CMA CGM said in a statement.

SCG Opts for Castor 4G Package on 30 Ships

15 minutes ago

Shipping Company Groningen (SCG) has contracted offshore internet services provider Castor Marine to install its Global 4G Connectivity package on all 30 of its vessels. With this, the coasters will have a fast, global 4G-LTE internet connection for its crews. On its fleet, SCG offers its personnel a Crew Welfare Zone with free internet within the 12-mile (4G) zone. To realize this, SCG wanted a plug-and-play, cost-efficient system that is always operational and doesn’t interfere with the crew’s activities.To make this happen, a seamless transition between 4G and the Inmarsat Fleetbroadband (or Iridium Open Port L-Band satellite connection) outside that zone was needed.

CGG's Sercel Buys Stake in Autonomous Robots Start-Up

an hour ago

France-based seismic data company CGG has informed that its subsidiary Sercel has acquired a 34% shareholding in AMBPR, a start-up company that designs and markets autonomous robots.The AMBPR robots are used for repairing (sanding and painting) of large metallic structures, used in the maritime and energy industries. "Sercel recognized the potential of AMBPR through Axandus, Sercel’s Industrial Accelerator program, which helps start-ups to scale up their industrial growth. The two companies have also signed an exclusive industrial partnership agreement whereby Sercel will manufacture AMBPR robots at its Saint-Gaudens site in France.

Huisman to Equip Chinese Rescue Vessel

2 hours ago

Dutch maritime equipment manufacturer Huisman said it has been awarded a contract by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd for the delivery of a 250mt knuckle boom crane and a 500mt towing winch, to be installed on the upgraded 14,000kW large cruise rescue vessel for Nanhai Rescue Bureau, part of the Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China.The 250mt knuckle boom crane will be outfitted with an active heave compensation system, allowing the crane to operate at water depths of up to 3,000 meters. The main hoist winch will be located below deck to enhance the stability of vessel.

Maritime Reporter and Engineering News (June 2020)

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