Turkey News

Stowaways are an ongoing issue for the security of ships and the safety of crew members, as well as incurring substantial associated costs for shipowners and insurers. Worldwide, information about stowaways is incomplete and incidents are under-recorded, but the financial cost per incident is known to be rising, costing the industry millions of US dollars every year. In recent years, increasing global migration by sea has meant that encountering people in difficulty in small or…

A rush to replenish scarce supply of high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) pushed Northwest European imports of residual fuel oil to their highest in three years in November, analysts told Reuters.The Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) area, Europe's main trading and refining hub, received around 450,000 barrels per day (bpd) of all types of fuel oil in November, the highest monthly volume since November 2021.That compared with an average of 332,000 bpd over January-October this year, according…

The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index eased for the fourth straight session on Friday, falling close to 0.5%, its lowest since July 2023. “This has certainly assisted the ship recycling sector with the supply of tonnage of late, fueling its survival into early 2025,” says cash buyer GMS.“As we stand on the edge of the final weeks of 2024, compared to the rest of the year, it certainly seems as though there has been more of an uptick in the markets of late, in addition to a far more positive conclusion for ship the recycling sector in the Indian sub-continent…

Cash buyer GMS notes that despite incoming president Trump’s announcement of applying sweeping tariffs to the tune of 25% on China, Mexico and Canada, the U.S. economy continues to firm as U.S. inflation drops to (globally) fantastic levels and the US Dollar strengthens against nearly all ship recycling nation currencies this week.The news of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah ceasefire eased tensions around trade routes, and a healthy number of already beach-worthy yet still employed ladies finally make their appearances at the various ship recycling waterfronts…

Russian drone and missile attacks have damaged 321 Ukrainian port infrastructure facilities since July last year, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday.Twenty merchant ships belonging to other countries were also damaged by Russian strikes, he added."Overall, Ukrainian food exports provide food for 400 million people in 100 countries around the world," Zelenskiy said. "Food prices in Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, and other countries in Africa directly depend on whether farmers…

As the effects of Donald Trump’s victory continues to reverberate globally, the U.S. economy continues to strengthen on the news that the country is opening up offshore drilling in order to further reduce American dependence on foreign oil, reports cash buyer GMS.“As the U.S. economy continues to strengthen and the U.S. Dollar firms against nearly all recycling destination currencies (including China, where Chinese stocks recorded rallies this week), local steel plate falls from…

Turkey suspended shipping traffic in Istanbul's Bosphorus Strait in both directions on Sunday due to a rudder failure on a 114-metre tanker, the Nazann, the Transportation Ministry said.The vessel, en route from Russia to Kocaeli in Turkey, had mechanical problems in the strait and the coast guard deployed tugboats, the ministry said. The Bosphorus connects the Black Sea in the northeast to the Sea of Marmara to the southwest, and beyond to the Mediterranean.(Reuters - Reporting by Jonathan Spicer and Canan Sevgili; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Former live export veterinarian and animal welfare advocate Dr Lynn Simpson has joined the debate on the future prospects of Australia’s live sheep trade that was sparked by industry veteran and veterinarian Dr Tony Brightling. The official industry body for the trade sees the future differently.Australia legislated a ban on the live export of sheep by sea from 1 May 2028 over animal welfare concerns, but Simpson also points to a shortage of vessels that is impacting prospects…

The Federation of National Associations of Ship Brokers and Agents (FONASBA) elected a new president and board at its annual meeting in Athens last month.Fulvio Carlini of Italy has succeeded Javier Dulce as FONASBA’s President, and the FONASBA Board now consists of the following members:Fulvio Carlini, President (Italy)Javier Dulce, Past President (Argentina)Botond Szalma, Executive Vice-President (Hungary)Dureid Mahasneh, President Designate, and Regional Vice-President Middle East (Jordan)Mohamed Mouselhy…

U.S. authorities have arrested a Turkish man who they allege was trying to violate sanctions by transporting oil from Venezuela, the Justice Department said on Monday.The U.S. reimposed sanctions on the Venezuelan oil company PDVSA in June after what it said was the failure of President Nicolas Maduro to return to talks with the political opposition and commit to fair elections.In a statement, the Justice Department said 37-year-old Taskin Torlak had "allegedly conspired to illegally sell Venezuelan oil…

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his Turkish counterpart, Tayyip Erdogan, had proposed reviving contacts on Black Sea shipping but that he had not yet had time to study the documents.Turkey and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have long been seeking to get merchant shipping sailing more freely though the Black Sea, which in parts has become a naval war zone since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.Putin told Russian state television that Erdogan had "once again renewed these proposals to continue contacts related to shipping in the Black Sea…

There seems to be positivity in the ship recycling market as the Baltic Index’s main Sea Freight Index fell for its ninth consecutive week this week, dropping to its lowest levels of the year, reports cash buyer GMS.“In essence, this decline especially affects older trading fleets, which in turn has seen all recycling markets register imports at their respective waterfronts this week, including a welcome return from Pakistan to the fray,” says GMS. “Fundamentals, though, continue…

Weak pricing, damp demand, and dithered sentiments characterized another lackluster week in the ship recycling industry on the Indian sub-continent, reports cash buyer GMS.Sales ground to a virtual halt this week with activity registering at some of the lowest levels witnessed for nearly a decade.As levels declined by over USD 100/LDT since the peaks of 2024, a majority of the marginal sales are reliably taking place below USD 500/LDT on nearly all vessels and into all markets.Bangladesh…

A few months after the announcement of the acquisition of REVERE Survival in Jacksonville, LALIZAS announced the establishment of LALIZAS Canada, effectively enhancing the company’s presence in the Americas.Miguel Norato has been appointed as the Country Manager of LALIZAS Canada.LALIZAS, a family owned company, has the vision to produce high quality products that ensure safety at sea, and distribute them in international markets. It currently owns 10 branches in Spain, Italy…

A Russian ballistic missile attack on Wednesday on the port infrastructure of Ukraine's southern Odesa region killed six people and injured eight, Odesa Regional Governor Oleh Kiper said.The injured were all Ukrainian nationals, Kiper wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

For the second running week and on the back of firming Chinese plate prices last week, ship recycling markets felt some positive moves as local plate prices remain on a positive to firm footing across the board, reports cash buyer GMS.However, increasing magnification into local markets proved to be a reality check, says GMS, due to the ongoing lack of tonnage that has been typical of this “dark year” in ship recycling.“After the U.S. Fed rate cut of 0.5% on interest rates a couple of weeks back and global currencies took a moment to adjust…

A Turkish seismic research vessel plans to arrive off the coast of Somalia at the end of October and begin searching for oil and natural gas, after the countries agreed on energy cooperation, Turkey's energy ministry said on Thursday.The March agreement envisaged oil exploration and production and allowed Turkish Petroleum to obtain licenses for three areas in the Somali seas.The ship Oruc Reis will explore in areas covering approximately 5,000 square km (1,930 square miles), the ministry said…

A new analysis from Windward reports a 20% decrease in the volume of direct oil voyages out of Russia in Q3 2024 compared to Q2.Q3 2024 marked the lowest monthly average of direct voyages from Russia to China since March 2023. When compared to Q2 2024 averages, there is a decrease of 12% in such voyages.This is the first total volume decrease since the beginning of the war between Russia and Ukraine and is likely related to the slight decrease in port calls in Russia this quarter.However…

The operators of a Panama-registered tanker have been fined $2 million and the ship's captain sentenced to eight months in prison over charges stemming from environmental violations in the United States, the Department of Justice announced. Dubai-based Prive Overseas Marine LLC and Turkey-based Prive Shipping Denizcilik Ticaret, the two corporations that operated the motor tanker P/S Dream, were sentenced in federal court in New Orleans to pay a $2 million criminal penalty and complete four years of probation.

Seakeeper, a developer of marine motion control systems, has launched a new training facility in San Salvatore, Italy. This European location will enhance training access for partners outside North America, helping to build a global network of skilled technicians to support Seakeeper’s expanding customer base.“Our dedication to continuous improvement goes beyond our products; it’s also about the people who support them,” said Seakeeper president and CEO Andrew Semprevivo. “Our new training facility in Italy is part of our commitment to ensuring our partners are the best in the industry.

Greece will start negotiations to buy a fourth Belharra frigate from France to strengthen its navy as it recovers from a decade-long debt crisis, the country's defence minister said on Thursday.Greece agreed in 2021 to get three new Belharra frigates for 3.0 billion euros ($3.34 billion), with an option for one more, as it aims to replace old units that have operated for more than 30 years in its navy."I am pleased to announce today Greece's intention to start negotiations to acquire one more frigate…

Ukraine accused Russia on Thursday of using strategic bombers to hit a civilian grain vessel with a missile in the Black Sea in NATO member Romania's maritime economic zone, in what it described as a "brazen attack" on freedom of navigation.President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the vessel carrying Ukrainian grain to Egypt had been hit by a Russian missile just after it exited Ukrainian territorial waters, and that there were no casualties according to a preliminary assessment.There was no immediate comment from Russia.If confirmed…

The ship recycling market has so far been subdued in September, as expected, reports cash buyer GMS.Macro factors affecting the market include the situation in the Middle East, Houthi attacks on passing vessels and tensions caused by the repositioning of navies in response to ISIS fighters targeting U.S. bases.“The start of September saw the industry still witness the inescapable decline that is India’s ship recycling sector today, one that continues to show no signs of it slowing since early June,” says GMS.