SeaspanLNG is pleased to announce that it has completed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co. Ltd for the construction of a 7600m3 LNG bunker vessel. CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering (SOE) will build the 7600m3 LNG bunkering vessel at their shipyard in China. SeaspanLNG has worked closely with partner VARD Marine Inc. on the vessel design, which will incorporate emerging technologies, and further operational emissions and greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions while considering underwater radiated noise. The design is focused on safe, efficient and economical refueling of multiple ship types as well as an ability to transfer to and from a wide range of terminals, and will engage in ship-to-ship LNG transfer as well as coastal/short sea shipping operations. Learn more...

Trans Mountain has released its semi-annual Marine Progress Report that provides a progress update on marine activities and key marine commitments and conditions as the project approaches in-service. The update highlights the work done by WCMRC who are on track to implement enhancements that will double their existing response capacity and significantly reduce response time. WCMRC's progress includes having had delivered (12), procured (6), or in the process of being built (22) 40 out of 44 new vessels; 85 new positions with 50 remaining to be filled; and construction of five out of the six new responses bases underway. For the next reporting period, key engagement topics will include marine mammal protection, enhanced tug escort and support for safe traditional use of marine waterways. Read the full report here.

From its Vancouver International Airport base, Helijet International is spooling up its charter air services to BC communities, including those impacted by commercial airline schedule reductions and route suspensions. From YVR, flying time to Prince Rupert in a Helijet charter is just over one hour. With its North Coast helicopter base located at the Prince Rupert Seal Cove aerodrome, Helijet has the added ability to offer Helijet fixed-wing passengers arriving at the Digby Island Airport an additional seven-minute “short hop” transfer flight by Helijet helicopter to Seal Cove heliport within the City of Prince Rupert, instead of waiting for the ferry service. Helijet will soon be launching its land-on-deck services to ships in the North Coast - details to follow.

While the economic impact without cruise for two years has meant revenues of at least $260 million have not been realized in the Victoria region, the impact to the fabric of the community and small business operators has been just as great. Members of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, stakeholders, and community partners describe the value of cruise in Victoria and what it has meant for the community to not welcome ships to the region for two years. The impact, in their words, is available for viewing here.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Thomas Charles Ward on May 7, 2021. Born in Liverpool, England, Tom's career in the local maritime industry began in the 1960s with his first job in Vancouver as a Naval Architect with Robert Allan Limited. He joined Seaspan International in 1971 as Construction Manager, and was then appointed first Operations Manager and then General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of Seaspan’s subsidiary, Vancouver Shipyards. In 1993, Tom was appointed Senior Vice-President, Engineering, and later President and CEO of the British Columbia Ferry Corporation. In 1999, Tom took the helm of his own company, International Marine Consultants Limited, based in North Vancouver. Tom served two terms as Chairman of the Canadian Maritime Industries Association and was a Past President of the Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering and of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. In 2013, he was awarded that year’s Medal of Excellence by the Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering.

Terry Beech, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced the official opening of the new Canadian Coast Guard search and rescue station in Victoria, B.C. The station is situated on Dallas Road alongside the Coast Guard’s Victoria base with easy access to the harbour. The new building offers office and meeting space, as well as living quarters for the station crew. As with other Coast Guard search and rescue stations along the coast of British Columbia, the Victoria station is staffed 24-hours-a-day. The building is the 14th full-time station in Victoria’s coast guard region. (Photo credit: Kiernan Green/Victoria News)

AltaGas' Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal (RIPET) launched its first shipment two years ago. The vessel departed Prince Rupert on May 23, 2019, bound for Asia. As the first propane export operation in Canada, the RIPET project was designed to export up to 1.2 million tonnes of propane per year. AltaGas partnered with Astomos Energy Corporation in a  long-term offtake contract for 50 per cent of the anticipated throughput. The Astomos fleet of 21 Very Large Gas Carriers includes the Maple Gas, named in recognition of the Canadian operation. AltaGas also partnered with SAAM Towage Canada to provide escorting and berthing services using the SST Tsimshian Warrior -- the first IMO Tier IIII emissions-compliant escort tug on the West Coast designed by Robert Allan Ltd.

Congestion levels at the major North America container gateways are now expected to persist until the summer, as the consumer-driven import boom continues. April set new records, according to new data from PIERS, which recorded 31% year-on-year growth in containerized imports to the U.S. from Asia. It said 1.57m TEU arrived from Asia last month, the most on record, and it was the 10th consecutive month for year-on-year growth. The Los Angeles/Long Beach gateway has borne the brunt of the import surge and, during the first months of the year, has already handled 3.1m TEU, an increase of 46% on the same period last year, PIERS said. (Source: gCaptain)

Ocean carriers bringing the greenest ships to the Port of Long Beach can earn the world’s most generous sustainable vessel financial incentives, beginning July 1, 2021. The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners earlier this month approved changes centered around incorporating the international Environmental Ship Index (ESI) into the Port’s Green Ship Incentive Program, which began in 2012 and has helped improve air quality, encouraging shipping lines to send their newest, cleanest oceangoing vessels to the Port of Long Beach. More than USD $1.7 million in incentives were paid to participants in 2020. The updated program includes three incentive levels ranging from $600 to $6,000, depending on a vessel’s ESI score. Vessels with main engines meeting International Maritime Organization’s Tier III standard, which require dedicated NOx emission control technologies, are eligible for an additional $3,000 credit, meaning a vessel could be eligible for up to $9,000 on every call. Read the fact sheet on the program updates.

The U.S. Coast Guard has released their Annual Port State Control Report (download here), highlighting key enforcement measures of SOLAS, MARPOL, and other international conventions on foreign vessels trading in U.S. ports. In summarizing 2020, Rear Admiral Richard Timme, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy, reported a noticeable decrease in vessel arrivals which correlated to an overall decrease in the number of exams and resultant deficiencies and detentions. Data for 2020 showed that fire safety, safety management systems, and lifesaving were the leading causes for detention.

Royal Caribbean has received permission from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to start test cruises in preparation for regular revenue sailings. The Freedom of the Seas will sail her test cruises from Port Miami.  The test cruise can commence on June 20-22, 2021. Requirements include a 10% limit on the maximum number of volunteer passengers on the first two voyages as well as modified meal service and entertainment venues to facilitate physical distancing. Passengers and crew must meet standards for hand hygiene, use of face masks, and ship sanitation. Additional measures are imposed for shore excursions. For a deeper read, click here.

The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) alleged this week that high speed, the size of its rudder, and poor weather caused the Ever Given container ship to run aground in the Canal in late March. The SCA contends that the Ever Given was travelling up to 25 kilometres per hour, well above the appropriate 8-9 km/h expected for the Canal’s narrow southern channel, which did not allow the tugboats accompanying the ship to guide it through the channel, and also lead the rudder to not be properly aligned, resulting in the grounding. The SCA report also indicates that one of the marine units involved in dislodging the Ever Given sank in the salvage operation, causing the death of one SCA employee. The report comes amid a legal dispute between the SCA and the ship’s Japanese owner, Shoei Kisen, which asserts that the SCA was at fault for not providing adequate tugs and for permitting the ship to transit during a windstorm.

The International Chamber of Shipping is reporting great progress toward its goal of $1 million for the Seafarers International Relief Fund. Donations have so far reached $530,000. Seafarer charities have also issued almost $400,000 in grants to help those worst affected. The first three grants will provide funds to three seafarer charities: Stella Maris, Sailors' Society and the Mission to Seafarers. Funds will be used to purchase oxygenators, food parcels, care kits, counselling and therapy, PPE, and food ingredients.

BIMCO has launched “Seafarers Deserve Support”, the second in a series of films produced to raise awareness about the shipping industry. This second film is calling on governments and decision makers worldwide to step up and support the seafarers behind world trade. The pandemic has exposed a widespread lack of understanding about the crucial role of seafarers and the crew change crisis is far from over. Like its predecessor, “Ships Make the World Go,” the aim of “Seafarers Deserve Support,” is for the film to be shared as widely as possible to help raise awareness. View  the film via this link: https://www.bimco.org/SeafarersDeserveSupport.

In celebration of the two-year anniversary of the launch of AltaGas' Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal (RIPET), this week's ship is the Maple Gas, an LPG tanker built for Astomos Energy Corporation, one of the world's largest players in the LPG business. The Maple Gas, part of Astomos' 21-vessel fleet of Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs), was built at the Kawasaki Heavy Industries' Sakaide Shipyard and delivered in February 2019. Astomos has a trading network that, in addition to supplying a significant portion of propane for use in the Japanese domestic market, extends to India, China, Korea, Indonesia, and other South East Asian countries. The Maple Gas has a capacity of 82,200 cubic metres.

Flag: Japan
Gross Tonnage: 46,851
Summer DWT: 54,112 t
Length Overall: 230m
Breadth Extreme: 37m
Year Built: 2019