The cost of clearing the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge from the Patapsco River in Baltimore has risen roughly 42% since July, to more than $71 million. Maryland officials initially awarded a $50 million contract to Skanska, a Swedish construction company with a U.S. headquarters in New York, for clearing large sections of highway bridge trusses, steel girders, the main bridge deck and concrete parapets. The $21 million increase, which the Board of Public Works was expected to approve on Oct 2, covers the cost of cranes, large hopper barges, labor and equipment for an additional two weeks of work and processing of steel from the bridge’s main span, which wasn’t considered in the original cost estimate, according to state meeting documents. The contract modification is needed to compensate Skanska for the total work on this emergency procurement, the Maryland Transportation Authority said on Sep 23. Early estimates for the Key Bridge removal, which were based on Skanska’s demolition of the old Gov. Harry W. Nice Memorial/Sen. Thomas “Mac” Middleton Bridge, changed after contracting employees and subcontractors arrived on site, BPW meeting documents state. The company found that large sections of the Key Bridge had settled into the bottom of the river, requiring team members to find and mobilize specialized equipment. The state and Skanska pushed their initial timeline back two weeks, and the additional work and equipment added another $21 million to the contract. The Skanska contract was administered through the Maryland Transportation Authority, an independent state agency responsible for the state’s eight toll facilities, including the Key Bridge. The state has covered its contract using money set aside from toll revenue, but officials are expected to apply for federal reimbursement. A portion of the proceeds from a $350 million Chubb insurance payout are also available to cover debris removal and salvage work, according to the MDTA. Meanwhile Maryland officials announced a new lawsuit on Sep 24 echoing several other recent filings. The state’s claim seeks punitive damages against Grace Ocean Private Ltd. And Synergy Marine Group as well as costs associated with cleaning up the wreckage and rebuilding the bridge. It also cites lost toll revenues, environmental contamination, damage to the state’s natural resources and other damages. Officials said they’re still working to quantify the total monetary loss.
News
ANDROS KING
The Greek crew of the Golden Star Ferries shipping company that was on board the 'Volcán de Taburiente' of Naviera Armas to close the purchase and take it to the Aegean Sea, has abandoned the ship on Sep 23 by order of the Greek company. The ship has been docked for over a week at the Nelson Mandela dock in the port of Las Palmas, waiting for the Greeks to take it, but there have been complications. Apparently, the buyer shipping company has requested that a team of divers went down to check the underwater hull. Different sources of the crew that has sailed on board the ferry in recent years explained that the ship has been having a problem of cracks in the hull for years, due to the fact that four engines were installed instead of the two that should have been mounted according to its design, which were producing strong vibrations in the stern.
Burgas
BMF Port Burgas EAD is a private-owned port operator of terminal Burgas East 2 and terminal Burgas West, part of the national public port of Burgas, Republic of Bulgaria. On June 5 2019 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria decided to expand the duration of the concession term of both of the terminals from 35 to 46 years and 8 months each. A couple of days ago, we took an opportunity to talk with Mr. Boris Balev, CEO of BMF Port Burgas EAD, who provided us with invaluable insight into the company’s business and development plans and their most important projects on the horizon. Mr. Balev, how much money and in what directions are your investments in the development of BMF Port Burgas since 2012? The investments that will be realized for the 2021 amount to nearly 8 million euros. With them, the total amount of investments since 2012 is approximately 158 million euros. I dare say that with these funds we have completely transformed the two terminals of the Port of Burgas since they were given to us for management and operation. We have talked many times about the facilities we have built and modernized in the port in the past, so I will focus on what is new for this year. We have put into operation a new installation for discharging oil bitumen from ships to railway cars and tank trucks. We strive not only to constantly increase the number of available equipment, but also to modernize it to such with modern technologies for energy efficiency. We are constantly working towards expanding and modernizing the storage areas in the terminals. The project for expansion of our silo complex is going well so far. This year we built 2 more silos, 5,100 m3 each. The construction of another 2 is forthcoming. The total capacity of the complex after the completion of the construction activities will be 119,000 m3. The implementation of this project allowed us to mark a number of strong months in the processing of cereals this year. Interview in English: https://maritime1.com/65710/
Cartagena
Get in touch We are always glad to provide our dedicated assistance as ship agents when a vessel is calling at any Colombian port or terminal. LBH Colombia is an exclusive and experienced company with more than 26 years in the Colombian market, enhancing integrated maritime operations with leadership and professionalism, We are fully committed to serve with excellence, to respect the business and to positively surprise our customers. Rendering fllw services: Ship Agents Logistic Management Husbandry Agents Reliable protective Agents Head Office Manga Av. California # 26 - 64 Cartagena- Bolivar, Colombia. marketing@lbhcolombia.com please kindly visit our website www.lbhcolombia.com @lbhcolombia
OLYMPIC SCOUT
The National Transportation Safety Board said on Sep 24, 2024, that the captain of the 'Montlake' failed to line up his vessel correctly while approaching the Hylebos Bridge in Tacoma, Washington on Oct 12, 2023,, causing the assisting tug 'Olympic Scout' to strike the bridge’s already deteriorated fender system. The 'Montlake', coupled to the 'Sodo', a 289-foot-long, 78-foot-wide barge, forming an articulated tug and barge unit, and was navigatomg outbound on the Hylebos Waterway in Tacoma. The captain requested the Hylebos Bridge operator to open the bridge. While waiting, the ATB had to pause,, causing its bow to drift from the channel’s center towards port side. Although the captain attempted to steer starboard to align with the bridge, the drag from the 'Olympic Scout' on the port bow prevented the ATB from moving in that direction. When the ATB began its transit of the waterway, it was 1,276 feet from the bridge. The channel between the Hylebos Bridge fenders measured 150 feet wide. However, the combined width of the 'Montlake/Sodo' (78 feet) and the 'Olympic Scout' (26 feet) was 104 feet, leaving only 23 feet of clearance on each side of the vessels. Because of the short distance to the bridge and the speed of the ATB, there was insufficient time to correct the lineup before the 'Olympic Scout' struck the fender. The investgators suggested that slowing or fully stopping the ATB’s forward motion earlier would have provided the operators more time to correct the lineup and successfully transit through the opening between the bridge’s protective fendering. While the Hylebos Bridge itself remained undamaged, the fender system required replacement at a cost of $2.43 million. Notably, precasualty inspections in 2017 and 2022 had already identified significant deterioration of the fender piles due to marine borer damage and fungal decay. A marine surveying and consulting firm stated, The damage caused by the [Olympic Scout contact] resulted in significantly more damage being sustained as would have been, had the fendering structure been of sufficient structural strength. Full report: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MIR2426.pdf
BIG HORN
The USNS 'Big Horn', being deployed to the Middle East, suffered damage on the night of Sep 23, 2024, after apparently running into something in the Arabian Sea and suffered damage to the ship’s rudder post and water flooding into a mechanical space. No crew members were njured in the incident. The extent of the damage was still being assessed and an investigation was ongoing. The 'Big Horn' was anchored off the coast of Oman earlier on Sep 24, but commercial tugboats were deployed to tow the vessel to a nearby port. Officials did not detail the circumstances of the allision, but the incident occurred in a part of the Arabian Sea that can be crowded with small fishing boats and vessels that can make maneuvering a large ship difficult. It was unclear if the 'Big Horn' ran aground or struck an object underwater.
Barranquilla
Get in touch We are always glad to provide our dedicated assistance as ship agents when a vessel is calling at any Colombian port or terminal. LBH Colombia is an exclusive and experienced company with more than 26 years in the Colombian market, enhancing integrated maritime operations with leadership and professionalism, We are fully committed to serve with excellence, to respect the business and to positively surprise our customers. Rendering fllw services: Ship Agents Logistic Management Husbandry Agents Reliable protective Agents Head Office Manga Av. California # 26 - 64 Cartagena- Bolivar, Colombia. marketing@lbhcolombia.com please kindly visit our website www.lbhcolombia.com @lbhcolombia
Santa Marta
Get in touch We are always glad to provide our dedicated assistance as ship agents when a vessel is calling at any Colombian port or terminal. LBH Colombia is an exclusive and experienced company with more than 26 years in the Colombian market, enhancing integrated maritime operations with leadership and professionalism, We are fully committed to serve with excellence, to respect the business and to positively surprise our customers. Rendering fllw services: Ship Agents Logistic Management Husbandry Agents Reliable protective Agents Head Office Manga Av. California # 26 - 64 Cartagena- Bolivar, Colombia. marketing@lbhcolombia.com please kindly visit our website www.lbhcolombia.com @lbhcolombia
MONTLAKE
The National Transportation Safety Board said on Sep 24, 2024, that the captain of the 'Montlake' failed to line up his vessel correctly while approaching the Hylebos Bridge in Tacoma, Washington on Oct 12, 2023,, causing the assisting tug 'Olympic Scout' to strike the bridge’s already deteriorated fender system. The 'Montlake', coupled to the 'Sodo', a 289-foot-long, 78-foot-wide barge, forming an articulated tug and barge unit, and was navigatomg outbound on the Hylebos Waterway in Tacoma. The captain requested the Hylebos Bridge operator to open the bridge. While waiting, the ATB had to pause,, causing its bow to drift from the channel’s center towards port side. Although the captain attempted to steer starboard to align with the bridge, the drag from the 'Olympic Scout' on the port bow prevented the ATB from moving in that direction. When the ATB began its transit of the waterway, it was 1,276 feet from the bridge. The channel between the Hylebos Bridge fenders measured 150 feet wide. However, the combined width of the 'Montlake/Sodo' (78 feet) and the 'Olympic Scout' (26 feet) was 104 feet, leaving only 23 feet of clearance on each side of the vessels. Because of the short distance to the bridge and the speed of the ATB, there was insufficient time to correct the lineup before the 'Olympic Scout' struck the fender. The investgators suggested that slowing or fully stopping the ATB’s forward motion earlier would have provided the operators more time to correct the lineup and successfully transit through the opening between the bridge’s protective fendering. While the Hylebos Bridge itself remained undamaged, the fender system required replacement at a cost of $2.43 million. Notably, precasualty inspections in 2017 and 2022 had already identified significant deterioration of the fender piles due to marine borer damage and fungal decay. A marine surveying and consulting firm stated, The damage caused by the [Olympic Scout contact] resulted in significantly more damage being sustained as would have been, had the fendering structure been of sufficient structural strength. Full report: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MIR2426.pdf
ICON OF THE SEAS
The US shipping company Royal Caribbean International had to cancel a cruise of the 'Icon of the Seas', which was due to start on Sep 28, at short notice. The reason for this were unscheduled repairs. Problems had already occurred on the current cruise because the ship was not reaching full cruising speed. Work was being done to resolve the technical problems on board the ship and expected to be completed next week, which is why the one-week Caribbean cruise from Sep 28 to Oct 5 was cancelled. The company will refund all services already booked and compensate guests with a travel credit in the amount of the cruise cost for a future trip with the shipping company. On the current cruise, the call at the port of Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas had to be canceled due to the technical problems on board. The voyage had started in Miami en route to Philipsburg on St. Maarten and was continued with two more days at sea via Royal Caribbean's private island Perfect Day at Coco Cay in the Bahamas back to Miami, where the ship will then stop operations on Sep 28 in order to carry out the necessary repairs.
Buenaventura
Get in touch We are always glad to provide our dedicated assistance as ship agents when a vessel is calling at any Colombian port or terminal. LBH Colombia is an exclusive and experienced company with more than 26 years in the Colombian market, enhancing integrated maritime operations with leadership and professionalism, We are fully committed to serve with excellence, to respect the business and to positively surprise our customers. Rendering fllw services: Ship Agents Logistic Management Husbandry Agents Reliable protective Agents Head Office Manga Av. California # 26 - 64 Cartagena- Bolivar, Colombia. marketing@lbhcolombia.com please kindly visit our website www.lbhcolombia.com @lbhcolombia
Santiago de Tolu
Get in touch We are always glad to provide our dedicated assistance as ship agents when a vessel is calling at any Colombian port or terminal. LBH Colombia is an exclusive and experienced company with more than 26 years in the Colombian market, enhancing integrated maritime operations with leadership and professionalism, We are fully committed to serve with excellence, to respect the business and to positively surprise our customers. Rendering fllw services: Ship Agents Logistic Management Husbandry Agents Reliable protective Agents Head Office Manga Av. California # 26 - 64 Cartagena- Bolivar, Colombia. marketing@lbhcolombia.com please kindly visit our website www.lbhcolombia.com @lbhcolombia