French automaker Renault has unveiled an ambitious plan to construct two wind-powered roll-on/roll-off vessels by as early as 2020. For the project, Renault has partnered with the French start-up Neoline, which was founded in 2015 with the goal of becoming the world's first shipowner specializing in sailing cargo ships. According to a press release, Renault and Neoline … [Read more...]
MSC Enters Deepsea Ro-Ro Shipping Sector
By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) - The world’s second largest container shipping line, MSC, has announced plans to enter the scheduled deepsea roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) sector. The Geneva-headquartered carrier will launch a fortnightly ro-ro service between North Europe and West Africa on 19 February, with a port rotation of Le Havre-Antwerp-Dakar-Conakry-Abidjan-Le … [Read more...]
MSC Says in Talks to Buy Stake in Italy’s Ignazio Messina
LONDON, Feb 14 (Reuters) - The world's no. 2 container line Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is in talks to acquire a stake in smaller Italian counterpart Messina, the Swiss-headquartered group said, in another sign of consolidation in the sector. Container lines are battling their worst ever downturn due to a glut of ships and weaker demand - prompting rivals to form … [Read more...]
Ro-Ro Safety Compromised By Fires and Explosions
Ro-Ro safety is a crucial issue, which was discussed by marine industry professionals at a Ro-Ro Safety Seminar held in Rome last month. Ro-Ro safety became a hot topic following the high level of casualties resulting from recent incidents. Case studies, presented at the seminar, fostered by RINA Services, Interferry and Norwegian Hull Club, resulted in … [Read more...]
ACL’s Atlantic Star, World’s Biggest Roll-On/Roll-Off Containership
Delivered in October, the Atlantic Star is the first of five new 'G4' ro-ro/containerships (ConRo) for Atlantic Container Line (ACL) to be used for transatlantic service. Its maiden voyage from Halifax, Nova Scotia to the Port of New York and New Jersey, Norfolk and Baltimore is scheduled for early January. (Update: Atlantic Star's arrival in New … [Read more...]