Tag: waterways

The American Waterways Operators released a new safety guide as the latest milestone in its two-decade effort to reduce the risk of fatigue-related accidents in the towing industry, working in cooperation with the USCG, the National Transportation Safety Board, and international sleep experts. 

In a bid to secure efficient response to maritime casualties, Turkey's Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure announced new regulations on shipping traffic along its main waterways, the Bosporus and the Dardanelles (Çanakkale), which are among the busiest waterways in the world.

The recent announcement by the Chinese Ministry of Transport regarding the Regulations on the Administration of Domestic Waterway Transport for Imported Ships has raised a number of questions on its impact on marine engines installed on ships navigating domestic waterways in China.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India issued 13 standardised ship designs suitable for large barge haulage on river Ganga. This aims to serve as an enabler for domestic shipbuilding industry working on inland vessels and open possibilities for cargo and passenger movement on National Waterway-1.

To keep US waterways open and safe, the US Coast Guard encourages shippers, whether professional mariners or recreational boaters, to self-report hazards to navigation, such as discrepant buoys and beacons, or debris, when sailing in inland waterways.

As the longest drought in decades has hit Northwest European countries drying out river waterways, cargo traffic is significantly disrupted with vessels being forced to carry lighter loads. However, on German Rhine, freight is being delivered despite shallow water, German association BDB informed. 

The longest drought in decades is drying out river waterways in the Netherlands, hitting cargo traffic in the inland sector and threatening a shortage of bulk supplies. The summer of 2018 looks set to overtake 1976 as the driest one on record in the country, with almost no rain for two months.

Under its 'Connecting Europe Facility' program, the European Commission has funded a project aimed at paving the way for LNG as fuel to trucks and inland waterway vessels in Germany. Berlin-based Liquind announced it will start construction of ten LNG stations after an EU grant of 3.3 million euros.

Under a program to clean up its canals and waterways, the City of Suzhou in eastern China has commissioned 177 electric workboats, designed specifically to remove floating debris from the water. The river Suzhou Creek, which flows through the city to Shanghai, was once the most contaminated waterways in China.

Damen Shipyards Group and Concordia Group signed a joint venture agreement, to cooperate in the construction and trade of inland waterway vessels. The joint venture, to operate under the name Concordia Damen Shipbuilding, eyes increasing market share in inland waterways.