Channel Islands Line’s 2,597gt/2012 built Huelin Dispatch (above) returned to Southampton on 5th August from Dublin having undergone an intermediate survey in the Dublin graving Docks Ltd. dry dock. The ship is owned by Dundalk Shipping who have confirmed that the charter of the vessel to the Jersey based successor to Huelin Renouf (for whom the ship previously operated) has been extended for a further two years. During the refit, the 2,548gt/2000 built Velox acted as relief for the regular ship.

Isle of Wight based Carisbrooke Shipping has added eight 8,000 dwt general cargo vessels from Liberty one and Solmunde & Partners to their commercially-managed fleet. The eight vessels are the 5,057gt/2004 built TIP Oslo, Tip Copenhagen (2004), Tip Helsinki (2003), Tip Bremen (2005), Tip Stockholm (2004), Tip Leer (2003), Tip Emden (5,040gt/2008) and the 5,581gt/2005 built Cremona. With the latest additions, the company now manages a fleet of over 61 vessels, with 31 ships in the range of 6,800 to 8,500 dwt.

Clipper Group announced on 26th August that it will take delivery of two SDari64 new building bulk carriers during the coming months from Sainty Shipbuilding in Yangzhou, China. The vessels, to be named Clipper Kalavryta and Clipper Kythira, were purchased as re-sales and will be technically and commercially managed by Clipper. The SDari64s are next generation eco bulk carriers and designed to improve overall vessel performance. These particular vessels will in addition be delivered with special cranes with an above the average lifting capacity and grab volume. Both vessels are also equipped with the ballast water treatment system Electro Cleen System to meet new requirements and thus preventing spreading of invasive species between oceans. Following the delivery of this duo, Clipper’s Ultramax fleet will total 14 ships built 2013 to 2015.

Hoegh Autoliners’ second New Horizon vessel was named Höegh Trigger on 9th September at a naming ceremony at Xiamen Shipbuilding industries in China (above). The ship is the second in a series of six Post- Panamax vessels under the New Horizon design that Höegh will take delivery of in the next 18 months. With deck space of 71,400 m2 and a carrying capacity of 8,500 car equivalent units, the 77,000gt vessel is together with Höegh Target, the worlds largest Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC).

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, was contracted by Chinese shipbuilding group Yangfan in August to deliver comprehensive Ro-Ro access equipment packages for a series of five post-Panamax 7,800 CEU pure car/truck carriers (PCTCs). The vessels are under construction for Italian operator Grimaldi group, with options for seven more. The 200m vessels will be among the world’s largest car carriers. They have been ordered as part of Grimaldi’s fleet expansion and modernisation programme. Each Macgregor Ro-Ro access equipment package will comprise a quarter ramp, side ramp, internal ramps, bulkhead doors and four levels of liftable car decks. The gross weight of the equipment is about 2,400 tonnes per ship. The vessels are expected to enter into service in 2017 for deployment on Grimaldi’s regular service linking the Mediterranean and North America. This service is specifically dedicated to the transport of new vehicles between Europe and the US and Canadian markets.

Port of London Authority data shows the tidal Thames is thriving economically with over 40,000 jobs linked to port operations. The Thames is home to the UK’s second biggest port, the busiest inland waterway in the country with ten million passenger trips and five million tonnes of freight moved between river terminals every year. it’s a vital supply line keeping families across London and the south east supplied with food, fuel and life’s essentials, a haven for nature and a centre for sports and recreation. The statistics for the tidal Thames are: 43,455 full time equivalent jobs, £4bn gross value added per year, £1bn new investment planned, 23.4m tourist visits, 10m walks and bike rides and 5,000 regular rowers.

Royal IHC, a Dutch shipbuilder, is to build the world’s first dual fuelled dredger. The 104m vessel is being built for the Belgian DEME group. The vessel will have a hopper volume capacity of 8,000m3 and is to be powered by Wärtsilä dual-fuel (DF) engines. The contract with Wärtsilä was signed in July, and the scope of supply includes one 12-cylinder and one 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 34DF engine, two Wärtsilä controllable pitch propellers and two transverse thrusters as well as the company’s patented LNGPac gas supply and storage system.