MAY 8, 2013 — Middleburg Heights, Ohio, based Great Lakes operator The Interlake Steamship Company has reached an agreement in principle with Shell to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG)  to support Interlake's conversion of its vessels to LNG as the main propulsion fuel.

Originally built in 1952, Kaye E. Baker was converted from steam to diesel last year

When Shell announced, back in March, that it would invest in liquefaction plants to serve marine and heavy duty on-road customers, it said that it expected Interlake  to

MAY 8, 2013 — Subsea 7 S.A. (Oslo: SUBC) has signed a contract with South Korean shipbuilding giant Hyundai Heavy Industries for a newbuild heavy construction vessel for delivery in 2016. Executive VP Commercial Steve Wisely (left) says the contract is "another investment in our world class leading fleet so that we can continue to meet our clients' demands for executing larger, more complex projects in deep and ultra-deepwater and in harsher environments."

The company says the new vessel will be one of the most capable

MAY 8, 2013 — At least five people have died and four are missing after the RO/RO containership Jolly Nero crashed into a control tower in the port of Genoa, Italy, according to local media.

Front page photo of Il Secolo XIX newspaper shows that all that remains of Genoa control tower is an external staircase

The Italian-flag ship, owned by Genoa headquartered Ignazio Messina, was maneuvering out of port with tugboat assistance and in calm conditions when it slammed into the dockside tower. The incident

MAY 8, 2013 — At least five people have died and four are missing after the RO/RO containership Jolly Nero crashed into a control tower in the port of Genoa, Italy, according to local media.

Front page photo of Il Secolo XIX newspaper shows that all that remains of Genoa control tower is an external staircase

The Italian-flag ship, owned by Genoa headquartered Ignazio Messina, was maneuvering out of port with tugboat assistance and in calm conditions when it slammed into the dockside tower. The incident

MAY 8, 2013 — The Department of the Navy has notified U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) that it is pursuing the award of multi-year procurement contracts critical to the work of shipbuilder Bath Iron Works (BIW). The Navy will announce contracts for up to ten DDG-51 destroyers and associated systems for Fiscal Years 2013-2017 by June 4, according to a posting on Senator Collins' website. The posting notes that "BIW is a strong competitor for some of those contracts."

Senator Collins is

MAY 8, 2013 – Senator John D. "Jay" Rockefeller IV (D. W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, is continuing his efforts to provide "robust oversight" of the cruise industry.

He has just sent letters to the three largest cruise line companies requesting information about their passenger safety, security, and health practices.

At least one of his previous letters to the industry proved highly effective.

In March Senator Rockefeller wrote to Micky Arison, CEO of Carnival Corporation, expressing his serious concerns

MAY 8, 2013 – Crowley Maritime Corporation is entering the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) market by acquiring Carib Energy LLC. As part of the  acquisition, Carib Energy President Greg Buffington (left), will join Crowley as vice president of Carib Energy. He will report to Crowley's VP of Business Development Matt Jackson, who is heading up a new Crowley LNG services group within Crowley's petroleum services business unit. Mr. Jackson reports to Rob Grune, Senior VP and General Manager, Petroleum Services.

The new team will marshal Crowley's

MAY 8, 2013 – Seattle headquartered Blue North Fisheries has signed a contract with Anacortes, Washington, shipbuilder Dakota Creek Industries covering construction of what will be one of the most environmentally friendly and technologically advanced fishing vessels in the world. The contract includes an option to build a second vessel starting late in 2013

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2014. Specifically developed for the Alaska cod hook-and-line fishery it was designed by Norway's Skipsteknisk AS. It is based on Skipsteknisk's

MAY 9, 2013 — The 113,000 dwt Long Range 2 (LR2) product tankers ordered by Teekay Tankers at STX Offshore & Shipbuilding last month ( see earlier story ) will each be powered by a MAN B&W G60ME-C engine.

MAN B&W G60ME-C engine

The four confirmed vessels covered by the contract, which includes options for up to 12 additional vessels, will be constructed at Jinhae shipyard in Changwon, South Korea, with delivery scheduled from the second half of 2015.

"In recent times, the market has sought to optimize