Maritime Vessels Directory

Australia-based shipbuilding group Austal Limited said its Vũng Tàu, Vietnam shipyard launched its first vessel, a 94 -high-speed catamaran for the National Infrastructure Development Company (NIDCo) of Trinidad and Tobago.The vehicle-passenger ferry, to be known as APT James, is the first vessel to be constructed by Austal Vietnam following the official opening of the shipyard in November 2018.The Austal Auto Express 94 is an all-new aluminium catamaran design, with capacity for 926 passengers and 250 cars, travelling at speeds up to 37.5 knots. The ship will feature an advanced motion control system, to deliver a more comfortable and stable ride for passengers and crew, the builder said.

Iranian Tanker Docks in Venezuela

3 hours ago

The first of five Iranian tankers carrying fuel to Venezuela has moored at a port serving the El Palito refinery, the oil minister said on Monday, and Refinitiv Eikon data showed a second vessel had entered its waters.Iran is providing Venezuela with 1.53 million barrels of gasoline and refining components in a move criticized by U.S. authorities as both countries are under U.S. sanctions, according to the governments, sources and calculations by TankerTrackers.com.Refinitiv Eikon data showed that the tanker Fortune docked at one of El Palito's berths around 1 a.m. local time (0500 GMT).

The Philippines Answers Call of Cruise Workers Begging to Go Home

14 hours ago

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has given his government a week to process some 24,000 repatriated Filipino workers stuck for weeks on cruise ships or in coronavirus quarantine, so they can finally go home.Thousands are aboard cruise vessels off Manila Bay or stuck in hotels and crowded health facilities, some growing frustrated having tested negative for the coronavirus and completed the mandated 14-day quarantine.Overseas Filipino Workers, or OFWs, are breadwinners and a key support base of Duterte. Their more than $30 billion of annual remittances is a key driver of the Philippine economy, sustaining millions of family members.

Fishermen Rescued After Two Weeks Adrift at Sea

13 hours ago

Two fisherman reportedly adrift for two weeks and presumed lost at sea were rescued with help from a good Samaritan towboat crew and the U.S. Coast Guard.Domingo Jimenez, 45, and Ramon Castillo, 29, both from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, departed Samana, Dominican Republic on May 2. On May 5, USCG Sector San Juan watchstanders received a report from a concerned family member stating Jimenez and Castillo were overdue after heading out in their 25-foot vessel to fish approximately 132 miles northeast of Samana.The U.S.

Wärtsilä Launches FuelFlex ICU Upgrading System

2 hours ago

Wärtsilä launched its FuelFlex Injection Control Unit (ICU) upgrading solution available for retrofitting on vessels with Wärtsilä RT-flex96C-B and RT-flex84T-D two-stroke engines to meet the requirements of operating its RT-flex type two-stroke diesel engines with both residual and low-viscosity marine fuels. According to Wärtsilä, this is particularly relevant in view of the industry’s increasing use of low-sulphur-content fuels in order to be compliant with sulphur emission regulations.ICUs deliver a precisely controlled quantity of fuel into the cylinder at timed intervals, thereby ensuring efficient combustion at any engine load.

Maritime Reporter and Engineering News (May 2020)

Fleet Management