Coronavirus-hit Ship Approved to Pass Through Panama Canal
A cruise ship stuck off Panama’s Pacific coast after four passengers died and more than 130 others developed influenza-like symptoms, including at least two with the coronavirus, will be allowed to proceed through the Panama Canal, the government said on Saturday.Holland America Line’s 238-meter (781-foot) MS Zaandam vessel can now continue its trip to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but Panama’s government…
USNS Comfort Departs for New York
U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departed Norfolk, Va. Saturday for New York City in support of the COVID-19 response efforts.The Military Sealift Command ship will serve as a referral hospital for patients not infected with COVID-19, providing a full spectrum of medical care to include general surgeries, critical care and ward care for adults, while allowing shore-based civilian hospitals…
Nigeria Bans Ships Without Thermal Screening Facilities
As the world grapples with best practices to contain the spread of the current coronavirus, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, said the agency has developed guidance to support ships that operate in the Nigerian maritime domain, including banning all vessels without thermal screening facilities from operating in Nigerian waters.“These…
Nigeria Announces Offshore Oil Worker Restrictions to Battle Coronavirus
Nigeria's petroleum regulator has ordered oil and gas companies to reduce their offshore workforce and move to 28-day staff rotations as part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus, according to a circular seen by Reuters.Health experts fear a widespread outbreak in Africa's most populous country, which has about 200 million inhabitants, and the country is keen to protect oil production…
Empty Tankers Depart Venezuela; Sanctions Cancel Cargo
Three large crude carriers (VLCCs) chartered by units of Russian oil major Rosneft to transport Venezuelan oil left Caribbean waters empty on Saturday after the cargoes were canceled due to sanctions, according to Refinitiv Eikon data and a document from Venezuelan state-run oil firm PDVSA.The vessels - which would jointly export some 5.7 million barrels of Venezuelan heavy crude to Asia - had waited for weeks near Venezuelan waters to load…
