CMA CGM announced that it is reinforcing its service from Europe to West Africa, with a new call at Kribi, in Cameroon and reduced transit times from North Europe on its EURAF 5 service. The new service started in January 2018.

A new digital test service is developed to facilitate the assess of tidal level and weather affecting their plans to sail challenging passageways where shallow water poses a risk. Initially, the service will cover the Sound between Sweden and Denmark. The data for the service is provided by the Danish Meteorological Institute, the Danish Geodata Agency and the Swedish Maritime Administration.

South Korean shipbuilding company, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, informed on Tuesday that it has reached an agreement worth US$370 million, for the construction of two LNG carriers for an undisclosed shipping firm. DSME will deliver the two LNG carriers by the first half of 2020.

EMSA released a report aiming to support port authorities and administrations backing the use of LNG as a ship fuel, as part of a joint effort to increase safety and sustainability. The guidance was prepared in cooperation with the European Commission, member states and industry within the context of the European Sustainable Shipping Forum. 

Hyundai Mipo Dockyard will deliver the world’s first ballast free LNG bunkering vessel later in 2018. The 7,600m³ vessel was ordered by Germany-based Bernhard Schulte Ship management in 2016 and is being constructed to LR class at HMD’s Ulsan shipyard. 

HMM & AAL will start a joint service for 4 MPVs in HMM’s operation as well as newly added 2 AAL A-Class vessels. HMM will deploysix vessels in Asia, in Middle East region, instead of four that are currently deployed. One of the AAL’s vessels will be deployed in March, and the other during the second half of 2018.

Kongsberg Digital launched a 3D virtual application for its K-Sim Cargo simulator. The system generates visualization for operational training on important areas of the cargo deck, enabling training centres to deliver safer cargo transfer operations. The 3D virtual model is based on a customized simulation model of a VLCC, M/T “Kiho”.

The unmanned RALamander fireboat aims to keep marine firefighting professionals out of harm’s way. Fires involving containers, petrochemicals, shore-side structures or vessels can be dealt with more quickly in situations where toxic smoke or explosion risk may obstruct manned vessels from responding effectively. 

Talking at the Georgia Foreign Trade Conference Monday, Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Griff Lynch presented a plan to double container handling capacity to 10 million TEUs at Garden City Terminal over the next 10 years. The new plan will enable the port to handle 10 million twenty-foot equivalent container units.