Industry | DLS Marine

IT’S ALL UP IN THE AIR

The technical areas of maritime shipping increase rapidly with multiple ways of reducing emissions from dual-fuel engines and wind assistance and to computerized control of engines, wind assistance, and route planning. With these increasing technical advances, the certification and ongoing inspections of the systems grow more difficult. Technical advancements are also being made for vessel inspections. One of the fastest growing in all forms of vessel inspections is the use of drones.

drones

Methanol: A Look at Owner’s Alternatives for Greening and the Movement of Bulk Cargoes throughout the World

Methanol has become the most popular alternative fuel for vessels in the global new build orderbook alongside LNG, but its high cost has kept operators from signing up for the fuel in the long term. The industrialization of technology and the commercial development for vessel fueling did not progress as quickly as expected.

Methanol

Flotsam & Jetsam – A Look at Maritime Sections

With new GHG emissions regulations and corporate ESG concerns, designs and outfitting are now changing faster than they have over the previous 80 years. The propulsion and hull design of a ship in 2030 will be strikingly different, even than that of a peer ship built by 2020.

2023 10-K Annual Statements – Corporate Cliffs Notes

Today we look at the stats! I am digging into the 10-K reports for publicly traded companies relating to the marine industry to see what their numbers can tell us about the current state of profit and risk.

10-K reports

Hot Air?

U.S. offshore wind farms come up frequently in the news, often related to politics and with a list of players that seems to change monthly. The number and location of sites in this industry, fledgling in the U.S., is confusing. To help visualize what is happening, I found several websites with information on the U.S. Windfarms operators.

corn drones new barge construction soybeans Wind Farms

CURRENT BATTERY SCIENCE IN TRANSPORTATION and AN ONGOING LOOK AT INLAND

In September 2021, I looked at the growing use of Lithium-Ion batteries in forms of transportation. It was researched for my own education as well as for my readers. This blog will try to give basic information on the new generation of batteries and the systems that will be necessary for them to be used in various types of transportation as stored electrical power starts to take over from fossil fuels.

Battery Science

THE FUEL RACE REVISITED…and other subjects

The fuels of the future will be impacting everything that we do. They are already impacting commerce, from moving to more electric and natural gas-powered vehicles in cities, to the billions of dollars being diverted to research, development, production, and distribution of these alternative fuels.

Fuels of the future

A Look at Kirby Corporation and Inland Trends

While most vessel owners/operators keep their numbers under wraps, publicly traded companies, such as The Kirby Corporation, publish an annual report of their performance for shareholders. These reports are a wealth of information that can help us understand trends in our industry.

Kirby’s income increased over 2021 despite still dealing with the fallout of Covid-19 as well as low water conditions in the Mississippi River during the 4th quarter.

Inland industry trends

Cash, Coal, and Corporations

While corporate lenders, shippers, and charterers are moving towards more eco-friendly operations, problems with green financing are growing. Stricter lending requirements are going into effect faster than owners can produce their long-term compliance plans. Banks do not want to end up with loans on stranded assets that can no longer earn money to pay their debt. A vessel with a low level of compliance becomes essentially unemployable.

GHG Emissions Green financing

The Inland River Scene & Revisiting Tugboats 101

As we have seen in worldwide marine commerce, and in commerce in general, the inland trade has been bouncing around a bit like an EKG strip. Weather patterns and international conflict have affected the grain trades, coal trade, and inverted some of the petrochemical trade. The world economy has stifled steel production and shipping and has had a knock-on effect on coal and ores.

Inland trade tugboats 101

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Mondi Semsar

Hull, Machinery, & Digital Surveyor

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Anthony J. “Tony” Anselmi

Hull & Machinery Surveyor

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Matt McDaniel

Hull & Machinery Surveyor

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Charles Sterling

UAV Supervisor | Digital Inspection Manager

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Certified Specialist in Caterpillar diesel engines to include:

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Ave P. Boudreaux

Marine Surveyor

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Norman F. Laskay

Of Counsel

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Harry Ward

President

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