Middle East Gulf Exports Soar in January 2017
![Middle East Gulf region crude oil exports by berth month and departure month from February 2016 to January 2017. (Image: Genscape)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/middle-east-gulf-region-crude-70484.png)
During January – a month when all eyes were on oil production cuts – exports leaving the Middle East Gulf (MEG) region hit the highest level in at least two years, according to Genscape. At the end of November 2016, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) addressed the perceived global oversupply of oil and consequent low prices. OPEC members agreed that all countries, except Iran, would cut total production by 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd), starting on January 1.
US Drillers Continue to Add Oil Rigs
U.S. energy companies added oil rigs for a 14th week in the last 15, extending a nine-month recovery as drillers take advantage of crude prices that have held mostly…
Suitability Survey Completed for Second Largest Semi-Submersible
![The Xin Guang Hua (Photo: Global Maritime)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/the-xin-guang-hua-photo-70475.jpg)
Global Maritime Consultancy & Engineering, a provider of offshore marine warranty, dynamic positioning and engineering services, has completed a suitability survey for the world’s second largest semi-submersible - the ‘Xin Guang Hua’ - in advance of her maiden voyage. For the survey, Global Maritime carried out an independent assessment of all aspects of the vessel’s condition. The Xin Guang Hua - at 255 meters long…
Damen Repair Yards Earn More ISO Certifications
![Photo courtesy of Damen Shipyards Group](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-courtesy-of-damen-shipyards-70474.jpg)
A number of Damen Shiprepair & Conversion yards have recently or will soon achieve new ISO certifications as part of an ongoing initiative to standardize operating procedures across the group. Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam (DSAm) and Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen (DSVl) have passed ISO 3834-2 certificate audits. This standard defines rigorous quality procedures for the fusion welding of metallic materials and represents the highest possible accolade in the welding industry.
Cargo Ship to be Converted into a Dredger
![DC Eems prior to conversion (Photo: Kooiman)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/dc-eems-prior-to-conversion-70467.jpg)
Group De Cloedt will have her dry cargo vessel DC Eems converted into a trailing suction hopper dredger. Kooiman Marine Group in Zwijndrecht has received the order for this project. The DC Eems, currently under management with EemsWerken, (family Kornet) from Werkendam, measures approximately 90m x 15m. Upon completion of the conversion, she will have a hopper of 2,450 cbm and will be employed within the granulate / dredging fleet of Group De Cloedt, under a new name.
Another New Ferry for NYC
![© photoman120 / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photoman120-adobe-stock-70466.jpeg)
Plans are in motion to procure another newly built ferry for New York City. A city-run organization in charge of running New York’s Governors Island said it is seeking bids for the design and construction of a new passenger-only ferry for its service between the island and Manhattan. Naval architecture and marine engineering firm Glosten, Inc. has provided technical requirements for the design, construction and delivery of the vessel, to be operated by The Trust for Governors Island.
Asia, Mideast Product Tankers Idled on Oversupply
Lower product shipments from India, Mideast; diesel comes off floating storage, frees up ships. Dozens of tankers used to carry refined oil products are sitting…
Rare Gasoline Exports Underway from Bloated East Coast Stocks
Traders prep rare East Coast gasoline exports; cargoes already sailing with exported distillates. Traders are preparing to export cargoes of coveted gasoline from the U.S.
First Meet of Arctic Economic Council held
A meeting of the Arctic Economic Council (AEC) was held in Saint Petersburg on the premises of SCF Arctic, a subsidiary of Sovcomflot Group (PAO Sovcomflot), on 7-8 February 2017.
Litter Levels in the Arctic Depths On the Rise
The Arctic has a serious litter problem: in just ten years, the concentration of marine litter at a deep-sea station in the Arctic Ocean has risen 20-fold. This…
Improved Demand Easing Dry Bulk Vessel Oversupply
With contraction in vessel supply and healthy demand growth, the dry bulk shipping market is expected to recover from 2017 onwards, according to the latest edition of the Dry Bulk Forecaster…
Port Traffic Surges at Long Beach
Renewed activity at the Port of Long Beach’s largest terminal and extra ships calling ahead of the Lunar New Year pushed cargo 8.7 percent higher in January compared to the same month a year ago.
Wärtsilä joins battle against ocean plastics
The Finnish technology group Wärtsilä has signed an agreement with the Seabin Project to join their global pilot programme, which addresses the worldwide littering problem affecting our oceans.
U.S. Navy to Christen LCS Tulsa
The Navy will christen its newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship, USS Tulsa (LCS 16), during a 10 a.m. CST ceremony Saturday, Feb. 11 in Mobile, Alabama.
U.S. Navy College Program App for Mobile Devices
A new application for mobile devices which allows Sailors on-the-go access to many features of the Navy College Program (NCP) is available as of Feb. "The Navy College…
Diana Containerships Charters Post-Panamax to Hapag-Lloyd
Diana Containerships Inc. today announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Hapag-Lloyd AG, Hamburg…
Transocean's contract backlog $11.3 Bln on February 9
Transocean Ltd. (NYSE: RIG) today issued a quarterly Fleet Status Report that provides the current status of and contract information for the company's fleet of offshore drilling rigs.
Hyundai Heavy Back in the Black
The South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has reported a net profit of KRW 682.3 billion (USD 596.6 million) for the full year of 2016, returning…
Marine Contracts Hits Low, Says Wartsila's CEO
In the marine markets, contracting activity fell to an exceptionally low level, Jaakko Eskola, President & CEO, Wärtsilä said in the annual report 2016. The majority…
India Spends $ 20 mln towards Clean, Green Ports
Under the Green Port Initiative (Swachh Bharat Abhiyan), the shipping ministry of India has identified 12 activities to make the Major Ports more clean and green from the environment perspective…