In September 2019, Klaveness Combination Carriers took delivery of M.V. Barramundi from New Yangzi Shipyard in China. From a casual observation, this was not an exceptional event except that she is the third new build in a fleet of what will eventually be nine so-called “CLEANBU” combination carriers. That is to say, a series of high specification new builds capable of carrying wet or bulk cargoes. Deliveries are scheduled until 2021.

As construction of British Columbia’s first LNG export project moves ahead, we are reminded of a number of LNG export projects across the globe that have required courage and vision along with the acceptance of commercial risk to bring them to a successful final investment decision. The major LNG producers of Qatar, Australia, the United States, Malaysia, Nigeria, Russia and Indonesia and Norway have each overcome challenges unique to their geography and environment.

With COP 25 concluding this week in Madrid, it is perhaps worthwhile to recognize the technologies being employed over the past decade in pursuit of the exponentially growing demand for installation of offshore wind turbines. A good example of the purpose-built heavy-lift jack-up vessels employed in this trade is Pacific Orca owned by Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO).

In July this year, the Royal Boskalis Westminster owned semi-submersible heavy lift vessel BOKA Vanguard loaded the LOA 324m x 37m beam cruise ship Carnival Vista for drydocking and repair of the vessel’s azipod propulsion system in the Grand Bahama Bahama shipyard Freeport, Bahamas. The unusual operation was an emergency solution to the closure of one of Grand Bahama Shipyard's three drydocks following a crane collapse which damaged Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas.

Based here in Vancouver, Canada, Methanex is the world’s largest producer and supplier of methanol. The company operates production sites in Canada, Chile, Egypt, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States supported by a global supply chain of terminals, storage facilities and the world’s largest dedicated fleet of methanol tankers. 

After beginning her maiden voyage from the Norwegian port of Tromso in early July this year the Hurtigruten expedition cruise ship MS Roald Amundsen has just become the first battery-hybrid powered ship to sail over 3,000 nautical miles through the Northwest Passage. She sailed from Kangerlussuaq in Greenland on August 20 to Nome, Alaska, arriving on September 10.

It seems that we are constantly receiving updates on the latest “world’s largest container ship” but it must be said that the decision of Switzerland based Mediterranean Shipping Company’s (MSC) to invest in a new class of mega Ultra Large container Ships (ULCS) is really pushing the boundaries. With 24 rows of containers, the intended class of 11 vessels sets a significant new container crane challenge for terminals.