US, Australia to Unveil Submarine Pact to Counter China
U.S. President Joe Biden will meet leaders of Australia and Britain in San Diego on Monday to announce a way forward for Australia to receive nuclear-powered submarines in Canberra's biggest-ever defense project.The three countries announced the so-called AUKUS plan in 2021 as part of efforts to counter China in the Indo-Pacific region.However, questions remain over strict U.S. curbs on the extensive…
Italy Coastguard Launches Multiple Rescues, Over 1,000 Migrants 'In Danger'
The Italian coastguard launched multiple rescue operations on Friday to save hundreds of migrants packed aboard several boats off the toe of Italy, less than two weeks after at least 73 drowned in a shipwreck."More than 1,000 people are in danger," the coastguard said in a statement.The president of the southern Calabria region, Roberto Occhiuto, said a total of around 1,300 migrants were aboard boats…
Offshore Workers to Strike at UK Continental Shelf
British union Unite on Friday said several Sparrows offshore services workers have voted to strike at dozens of platforms on the UK continental shelf including those of BP and Shell.Around 150 Sparrows workers across more than 20 oil and gas platforms have voted for strike in a dispute over pay, the union said in a press release.This comes after the union last week announced its Sparrows members working on BP’s Andrew, Clair, Clair Ridge, ETAP, Glen Lyon and Mungo installations backed strike act
SWS Delivers Dual-fuel Capesize to the Angelicoussis Group
Greek shipowner the Angelicoussis Group announced its dry bulk division has taken delivery of its first dual-fuel Capesize bulk carrier.Ubuntu Unity was officially handed over to its Maran Dry Management (MDM) from Chinese shipbuilder Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (SWS) on February 28, 2023.The newbuild is 299.9 meters long with a 47.5-meter beam and cargo capacity of about 190,000 metric tons.
Baltic Dry Index Gains for Third Straight Week
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, gained for the third straight week, helped by higher rates for all vessel segments, largely capesizes.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, was up 45 points, or about 3.3%, at 1,424, the highest since late-December 2022, on Friday.The main index was up about 17.6% for the week.The capesize index gained 82 points, or about 5%, at 1,744.
Ross Offshore Charters Fishing Vessel for Offshore Survey Work
Norwegian offshore energy industry services firm Ross Offshore has agreed to charter Teige Gruppen's Sunny Lady fishing vessel for future offshore activities.The initial agreement is for the charter for the summer of 2023, but the parties envision long-term cooperation, too.Ross Offshore will use the vessel for seabed surveys. The vessel will be equipped with an observation ROV and be able to perform mapping- and environmental surveys."The first project starts in May…
Swan Energy's TOPL Awaits Lenders' Nod for FSRU Vessel Deal with BOTAS
BSE-listed Swan Energy, via its 51% subsidiary Triumph Offshore Private Limited (TOPL), said Friday it had executed a term sheet with Turkey's BOTAS to lease an…
Report: Russia Exporting Diesel to Saudi Arabia via Ship-to-ship Loadings
Russia is ramping up its diesel supplies to Saudi Arabia using ship-to-ship (STS) loadings in addition to direct supplies, market sources said, and Refinitiv data…
ICMS Installs Pontoon System in Eyemouth Harbour for CTVs Serving Scottish Wind Farm
Inland and Coastal Marina Systems (ICMS) in Scotland said Friday it had installed a heavy-duty pontoon system in Eyemouth Harbour as part of the new operations and maintenance (O&M) base for the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm.The system comprises a 58m x 4m pontoon and a 27m x 4m pontoon, both with one meter freeboard to match that of the vessels, creating a berthing facility for crew transfer vessels (CTVs) serving the new wind farm which is located 15.5 kilometers of the coast of Fife…
Gas Tankers Stranded near Russia due to Crimea Bridge Restrictions
Several tankers loaded with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) have been unable to cross under Russia's Crimea bridge due to security restrictions, traders said on Friday…
Second Bangladesh Ship Recycling Yard Earns HKC Compliance
M/S. S.N. Corporation’s Unit-02 ship recycling yard at Shitalpur, Sitakunda is now the second ship yard in Bangladesh to become compliant with IMO's Guidelines for Safe and Environmentally Sound Ship Recycling. The certification process was undertaken by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, establishing that S.N. Corporation was capable of the intensive procedural and performance standards required under the Hong Kong Convention (HKC).
EU Plans Annual Naval Exercise to Protect Subsea Pipelines, Cables, and Offshore Wind Farms
The European Union wants to hold joint naval exercises as part of plans to step up its efforts to protect critical infrastructure at sea, the EU environment policy chief said.Concerns about security threats to Europe's maritime infrastructure were heightened by attacks in September on the Nord Stream pipelines, which left them spewing natural gas into the Baltic Sea.The EU is set to publish an updated maritime security strategy on Friday…
Vard to Design, Build Cable Layer for NCT Offshore
Shipbuilder and designer Vard, part of Fincantieri, said Friday that it had secured a contract to design and build a cable laying vessel for NCT Offshore in Denmark.The VARD 9 01 design vessel is designed by Vard Design in Ålesund, Norway. The hull will be built at Vard Tulcea in Romania, while the final outfitting, commissioning, and delivery will be carried out by one of Vard’s shipyards in Norway.
NH3 FPSO Concept: Floating 'Green' Ammonia Production gets DNV AIP
An industrial-scale concept for a floating production unit to produce green ammonia has secured Approval in Principle (AiP) from DNV, and the project is now ready to start the Basic Design phase.The NH3 FPSO concept is being developed by Netherlands-based SwitchH2 BV and Norway-based BW Offshore and will be built through conversion of an existing Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) or a dedicated newbuild vessel.
Wintershall Dea Charters Eidesvik Offshore's Dual-fuel Supply Vessel
After securing a contract for its Viking Princess supply ship with Wintershall DEA on Thursday, Eidesvik Offshore said Friday it had won a deal for the Viking Queen…
