The Panama Canal received the last shipment of new gates for its ongoing expansion project on 12th November. The four gates were delivered by the 32,793gt/2012 built Chinese-flagged Xia Zhi Yuan 6 heavy-lift vessel owned by COSCO Ocean Shipping. The new locks will have 16 rolling gates, constructed in Italy by Cimolai SpA, eight in the Pacific and eight in the Atlantic. The canal expansion project involves widening of the channel and adding a third set of locks, one set on the Pacific and the other on the Atlantic side. The expansion project is 80 percent complete.

Fincantieri is remaining tight lipped concerning links between the Italian shipyard and a takeover of STX France. The Italian media has reported talks being held between the two parties regarding a 66.6% holding in the St. Nazaire yard that is currently held by beleaguered Korean company STX.

From 1st June 2016 the IMO will make it mandatory to weigh loaded containers before they are transported by sea. This will enhance safety and prevent pollution of the marine environment. From that time, loaded containers must not be taken on board a ship until their weight has been determined.

Arklow Shipping’s 119m long general bulk cargo vessel Arklow Brave was launched at the Ferus Smit shipyard on 12th December in Westerbroek, The Netherlands. The Arklow Brave is the fifth vessel in a series of six for the shipment of wheat, corn and other bulk commodities in European waters. The vessel’s hull form was chosen to adapt the bulbless principle, creating a slender bow without bulb. Taking into account the various loading drafts and wave conditions to be encountered in service, the total performance of this will be better than a conventional bow form. Elisabeth Limited’s new Rotortug RT Endeavour, an ART 80-32 tug, was delivered to her owner in Hong Kong during November. The RT Endeavour is the second of four Rotortugs on order with Cheoy Lee shipyards Ltd. and designed by Robert Allan Ltd. The Rotortug distinguishes itself from the conventional ASD, Tractor or Voith Schneider designs by using a triangular propulsion configuration.