Asia Pacific Maritime (APM), Asia’s premier shipbuilding & marine, workboat and offshore exhibition and conference, concluded on a strong note on 16 March 2018 with attendees expressing optimism for an anticipated upturn.

Recently, a customized Damen Cutter Suction Dredger, type CSD500, has been named by her owner Basra Gateway terminal at the Damen Dredging yard in the Netherlands. Immediately after the ceremony, the dredger was made ready for transport and towed to Rotterdam, from where it was shipped to Port of Umm Qasr, Iraq. The dredger’s first job will be the port extension for Basra Gataway Terminal.

Jumbo recently made a formal investment decision to appoint Huisman Equipment BV for the provision of the design and construction of two offshore mast cranes for their new DP2 Heavy Lift Crane Vessel (HLCV) to be delivered in the first quarter of 2020.

With a proven record in delivering high quality camera systems to the Naval market, the past 18 months has become a breakthrough period for the Aberdeen-based Kongsberg Maritime Camera Division in the commercial vessel CCTV market, with multiple orders and successful contract deliveries for customers operating in diverse commercial maritime verticals.

Ampelmann, a leader in the provision of safe offshore access to the energy industry, has been commended for its innovative N-type Icemann gangway with an OTC Spotlight on New Technology award.

Wärtsilä, a global technology group headquartered in Finland, announces that it has acquired Transas, an innovative, digital solutions provider headquartered in the UK.

Prysmian Group, a world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, announces an investment in excess of €170 million in a new cutting-edge cable laying vessel. This strategic asset will bolster Prysmian’s turnkey approach, under which it delivers end-to-end EPCI projects, from engineering, manufacturing and installation to full monitoring and diagnostic services.

Rolls-Royce has unveiled a sophisticated situational awareness system that fuses multiple sensors with intelligent software to mitigate against the safety risks navigators face when operating vessels at night, in adverse weather conditions or in congested waterways.

CEMEX UK has signed a contract with Damen Shipyards Group to build the first in a new generation of Marine Aggregate Dredgers, with LR providing classification for the vessel. The innovative design offers greater efficiency, environmental credentials and the ability to transport approximately 15% more load when compared to CEMEX’s current dredger.

Non-compliant discharge of oily water continues to be an environmental threat – and an expensive headache for the marine industry. With the tamper-proof Alfa Laval BlueBox SA, a stand-alone oil content monitor and data recorder, Alfa Laval is providing peace of mind to ship owners and operators.

Greek Assodivers Underwater Contractors have taken delivery of two MERMAC winches from MacArtney:one 19.5 ton AHC (active heave compensation) winch and one 6 ton umbilical winch.

Damen Marine Components (DMC) and Van der Velden Marine Systems (VDVMS) recently announced a merger. As of 1st January the two companies are operating together as Damen Marine Components Netherlands (DMC NL).

The technology group Wärtsilä and Crowley Petroleum Services are continuing their co-operation by extending and expanding their maintenance agreement for 11 articulated tug barges (ATBs) owned and operated by US-based Crowley. An ATB has a hinged connection system that allows a powerful ocean-going tug to connect to a notch in the stern of the barge, which enables the tug to propel and maneuver the barge.

Damen Shipyards Group has recently unveiled a Water Injection Dredger (WID), courtesy of a plug & play system aboard a Damen Multi Cat. Such capabilities are typically found only on dedicated platforms, though Damen realized that the Multi Cat’s forward propulsion and maneuverability made it a suitable platform for this type of dredging.

Shane Guidry, CEO of Q-LNG Transport, LLC, and VT Halter Marine, Inc. jointly announced the commencement of construction for QLNG’s first Articulated Tug and Barge (ATB) Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Bunkering unit.

IMCA has updated the US Gulf of Mexico vessel data associated with its authoritative study ‘Marine Construction Vessel Impacts of Proposed Modifications and Revocations of Jones Act Letters Related to Offshore Oil and Natural Gas Activities’ submitted to the US Customs and Border Protection agency in early April of last year. This supplement is part of a tracking exercise and focuses on the US GoM vessels of interest to IMCA’s members, and can be found here.