Indonesian shipper hopes for $2 billion debt restructure by year-end

  Indonesia’s PT Berlian Laju Tanker (BLTA.JK) (PTBL.SI), the world’s third-largest chemical shipper, hopes to restructure its $1.9 billion debt by the year-end and will switch its focus to niche liquid chemical and gas transport, its founder and chairman said in a rare media interview. The country’s leading oil and gas shipper defaulted on several…

3D Vessel Tracking: A New Course in Port Traffic Control

  Marine operators and entities have long struggled with the most efficient, effective means to monitor and manage traffic in increasingly busy ports around the world. The marine industry, unlike the airline industry, is unique in that mixed with high levels of commercial traffic is a broad and ever changing mix of personal watercraft of…

Iridium is Flying High Again

  The fight in the maritime satcom sector is somewhat analogous to the one fought by Apple and Microsoft in the early ‘80s: two tech companies, polar-opposite philosophies and a raging battle for market share. Market watchers  likely have noted an increased “competitive spirit” among providers of ship-to-shore communication services. Drivers are multiple and diverse,…

Crewmember Dies Following Ship Collision Off Washington State

  The Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Coast Guard are investigating a fatal collision between two fishing vessels off the Washington coast. On Friday morning, the Canadian vessel – Viking Storm – hit the drifting fishing vessel, Maverick, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The 40-foot Maverick later sank off La Push. Three of the…