A first-of-its-kind digital naming ceremony was held today for the 23,000 TEU CMA CGM Jacques Saade, the largest LNG-powered containership in the world. The ceremony was attended by Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard representatives in Shanghai, China, and CMA CGM management in Marseille, France. Blessed by father Francis Fang, the vessel was then officially named by its Godmother, Tanya Saad Zeenny, who wished the ship, the captain and its crew the best of luck on their future voyages with the traditional words May God bless this ship and all who will sail on her . The French shipping giant has made the symbolic choice of naming its new flagship after its founder, Jacques Saad, a visionary and entrepreneur.The CMA CGM Jacques Saad embodies our commitment to the planet. This vessel has been enhanced with the latest technologies and is the result of 7 years of research and development. While guaranteeing the safety of our crew, it preserves air quality and will be part of our fight against global warming. It significantly improves the environmental footprint of carried goods, Rodolphe Saad, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, pointed out.(Credits:www.offshore-energy.biz)

The U.S. classification and technical advisory services provider, ABS, is set to class four very large ethane carriers ordered by Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical (STL). These 98,000-cbm ethane-fueled VLECs are part of a Phase-2 order from STL and construction will be equally split between Samsung Heavy Industries and Hyundai Heavy Industries, ABD said in its statement on Thursday. ABS was the cla ssification society for the very first order of the six dedicated VLECs by Reliance Industries in 2014. The 87,000-cbm VLECs have been trading and laid the foundation for the next generation of larger VLECs. The Phase-1 order of six VLECs by STL not only had more cargo capacity, 98,000 cubic meters but included additional technological advancements such as ethane-fueled engines and the ABS LNG Cargo Ready notation. STL is delighted to be working with ABS, drawing on its experience and legacy of leadership in the VLEC sector that will support our Lianyungang petrochemical project by safely transporting ethane from the U.S. to China said an executive for STL. (Credits: www.offshore-energy.biz)

Dubai-based port operator DP World has partnered up with an Israeli group DoverTower in plans to jointly bid to privativise Haifa Port on the Mediterranean, Reuters reports. The deal was signed by Dovertower head Shlomi Fogel, the co-owner of Israel Shipyards and the Port of Eilat, and DP World Chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem. The two companies signed a number of memoranda of understandings (MoU ) on developing trade links paving the way for the duo to explore opportunities for joint investment in developing trade infrastructure in the two countries and the region. The cooperation will see the two parties cooperate on a potential shipping line between the Red Sea port of Eliat and Dubai Jebel Ali, according to local media reports. The agreement comes on the back of a historic US.brokered peace agreement between the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Israel. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are the first Arab nations to normalise relations with Israel in more than 25 years. In January 2020, Israel government gave the final green light for the privatisation of the country biggest port, the Port of Haifa. Under the plan, the state wants to sell all its shares in the port to an investor with proven experience in the container sector. Under the terms of the privatisation tender, the winner will obtain a concession of the port valid until 2054.(Credits:www.offshore-energy.biz)

Scottish Borders Council (SBC) planning committee has approved plans for the operations and maintenance building in Eyemouth for the Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm. The planning permission is for a new, three-story 1,040m2 main building and a two-story 538m2 storage warehouse. The OM building, designed by Corstorphine Wright Architects, will house the office, warehousing and staff welf are facilities required to support the servicing of the wind farm once operational. Having worked so closely with the Eyemouth Harbour Trust on the details of this proposal I am very pleased that Scottish Borders Council has approved the plans for our base at Eyemouth Harbour,said Matthias Haag, NnG Project Director. We need an base for the 25-year lifespan of NnG which brings with it fantastic socio-economic benefits for the town of Eyemouth and the local community.Neart na Gaoithe construction started in November last year with onshore works, while offshore construction began this August.(Credits:www.offshore-energy.biz)