The Port of Rotterdam has set a new throughput record over the first six months of 2019. Total throughput amounted to 240.7 million tonnes, 3.4 per cent more than in the first six months of 2018. The big driver behind the new record were containers, but LNG transport also showed immense growth.

Shipowner Stena Bulk has said in a statement there is no current evidence the ship has breached any maritime rules or regulations or was involved in a collision. According to Iranian authorities, this was the reason the ship was seized on Friday 19 July.

The Port of Antwerp is working on measures to increase the efficiency of container barge transport to and from the hinterland. One of these is establishing a minimum call size. After a trial period with a minimum call size of thirty, the port now changes that number to twenty.

Subsea 7’s subsidiary Seaway 7 will install the inner array grid cable system at the Hornsea Two offshore wind farm. Offshore activities at the site located ninety kilometres off the Yorkshire coast within the UK sector of the North Sea will commence in 2021.

The increase in scale in project cargo continues unabated. Wind turbines are getting bigger and bigger and there is a clear trend towards modular design. Where is the limit and what are the perspectives? Visit the two-day conference of the Project Cargo Summit on 11 and 12 September to find out.

Ammonia is suitable to be used as a marine fuel depending on a number of safety measures that are to be included in the design. This was the conclusion of new research by C-Job’s Lead Naval Architect Niels de Vries. He has used a new concept design, an ammonia carrier fueled by its own cargo, to study the subject.

French shipping company Bourbon Offshore is in serious danger of bankruptcy now that a group of creditors has demanded immediate payment of outstanding debts with a total value of 800 million US dollars.

Stena Bulk confirms that the company has had direct communication with the crew of the Stena Impero. The tanker was seized by Iran on Friday 19 July and so far the company had been unable to talk to the crew.

Remote operation of onboard machinery offers an array of advantages. Research project ROMAS is exploring the idea of moving the engine control room from the ship to a shore-based centre, while ensuring a similar or even better safety level. Tests have already been carried out with Norwegian ferry the Fannefjord.

Developer Parkwind and marine contractor Jan De Nul Group have begun seabed preparation works for the 219 MW Belgian offshore wind farm Northwester 2. In addition to a new type of wind turbines, the foundations feature a new design of external access platforms. At the same time, Jan De Nul will deploy its custom-built monopile gripper for the first time.