UN Awaiting Houthi Approval to Visit Decaying Oil Tanker off Yemen
The United Nations said on Tuesday it was still waiting for Yemen's Houthi group to authorize deployment of an assessment team to a decaying oil tanker that is threatening to spill 1.1 million barrels of crude oil off the war-torn country's coast.Two weeks ago U.N. aid chief Mark Lowcock told the U.N. Security Council that Houthi officials had agreed to allow a U.N. team to conduct a technical assessment and whatever initial repairs might be feasible on the Safer tanker.U.N.
Large Bulk Carrier Grounds in Mauritius
The large 203,130 dwt bulk carrier Wakashio has run hard aground in an environmentally sensitive area off the east coast of Mauritius, on Saturday evening.The 300-meter, Panamanian-flagged vessel was sailing under ballast without cargo through a major shipping lane in the Indian Ocean when it went off course and grounded on the reefs of Pointe d'Esny, while en route from China to Brazil. Its last port call was in Singapore.The cause of the grounding is unknown.
Metal Shark Delivers 22nd Vessel to NYC Ferry
Metal Shark has delivered an 88-foot, 150-passenger high speed aluminum catamaran for NYC Ferry operated by Hornblower.The Incat Crowther-designed HB122 is the 22nd vessel Metal Shark has built for NYC Ferry, and the 35th passenger vessel delivered from its Franklin, La. shipyard since April 2017.Metal Shark and Horizon Shipbuilding (which has since been taken over by Metal Shark) were selected to built the new fleet of NYC Ferry vessels in 2016.Halimar Shipyard…
Cyprus Names New Shipping Deputy Minister
Vassilios Demetriades has been appointed as Cyprus' new Shipping Deputy Minister, the country's president Nicos Anastasiades announced as part of a cabinet reshuffle. The seasoned maritime policy expert, known for his extensive work within the shipping industry and contributions to the European Union (EU), joins the Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry effective July 10.Since the ministry's inception in March 2018…
Port of Antwerp Orders Two Tugs from Damen
Damen Shipyards Group said it has been awarded a contract by the Port of Antwerp to deliver two IMO Tier III compliant RSD Tugs 2513 following "an intensive tender process". The compact ship-handling tugs each offer 70 tonnes bollard pull. The azimuth driven RSD Tugs 2513 has two bows, which means high performance in both bow and stern assisting operations. As a result of the always bow first approach…
First Cox Diesel Outboards Bound for N. America
Cox Powertrain said Tuesday it is shipping its first CXO300 production diesel outboards bound for North America to a distributor in Florida for the U.S. market.Following the delivery of Cox Powertrain’s first production CXO300 outboards to Singapore-based distributor Sime Darby, Cox has dispatched its next shipment to North America, where Florida-based distributor Ring Power is awaiting the engines'…
Lim Family Seeks to Halt Law Firm from Taking Court Role
Members of Singapore’s Lim family have asked a court to stop law firm Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP (R&T) from working for court-appointed supervisors to two companies…
Duterte Says Cannot Confront China Over Maritime Claims
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he had no choice but to treat disputes in the South China Sea as diplomatic endeavors because the alternative was to go to war with China.Duterte was speaking in defense of his government’s decision not to press a 2016 decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which went in favor of the Philippines in a case against China.During his annual address to the nation, Duterte said China was in possession of territory that his country did not ha
Australia Bans Marmaras Bulker for Underpaying Crew
A Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Agia Sofia has been banned from Australian ports for six months after authorities discovered seafarers on board were being underpaid.Australian…
U.S. Crude Floods into Asia, but It's a Short-Term Blip
Asia will import record volumes of U.S. crude oil this month, with China leading the way, but the surge is more likely a short-term blip rather than a sustained trend. A total of 57.7 million barrels of U.S. crude is expected to land in Asia in July, equivalent to about 1.86 million barrels per day (bpd), according to vessel-tracking and port data compiled by Refinitiv. This figure is subject to revision as some cargoes expected to discharge by the end of the month may be delayed…
LR Names Marine & Offshore President for SAMEA
LR has appointed Mike Holliday as Marine & Offshore president for South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa (SAMEA).In his new role, Holliday will lead LR’s Marine and Offshore operations across SAMEA, primarily based in Singapore, and be responsible for developing the business in current and emerging markets as well as identifying growth opportunities in the region including key gas, naval and offshore projects.Holliday’s remit will also include LR’s traditional portfolio such as classification…
BAE Systems Awards $129 Mln Supplier Contracts
U.K. shipbuilder BAE Systems said it has awarded a further five contracts to suppliers worth more than £100 million ($129 million), as progress on the Type 26 frigate program continues apace at the company’s shipyards in Glasgow.More than £1 billion ($1.29 billion) has been invested across the program’s supply chain to date, with more than 100 suppliers globally.The contract awards come as construction on the final unit of the first Type 26 frigate, HMS Glasgow, begins.
Silverstream Air-lubrication Chosen for 8 Newbuilds
U.K.-based Silverstream said it has secured orders for air lubrication technology on eight Hyundai Heavy Industries newbuild liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriersSignificant order on Shell-chartered LNG vessels sees proven Silverstream System specified on major newbuild program in South Korea.U.K.-based clean technology company Silverstream Technologies announced it has secured another new deal to install…
MacGregor to Equip US Navy's T-ATS Vessels
MacGregor, part of Cargotec, said it has secured an order to provide deck handling solutions to two towing, salvage and rescue ships (T-ATS) class vessels to be built at Gulf Island Shipyards, a subsidiary of Gulf Island Fabrication.MacGregor's scope of supply includes deck machinery, towing winch, traction winch, shark jaws, towing pins/pop-up pins, stern roller, offshore crane and other accessories.
Saga Sells Cruise Ship to Turkey's Anex Tour
Saga announced it has completed the sale of cruise ship Saga Sapphire to Anex Tour, a family-run Turkish tour operator. The ship is scheduled to reenter service as Blue Sapphire operating for Anex Tour’s new cruise line in 2021.While many cruise ships are currently being sold or scrapped due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Saga Sapphire sale is unrelated to COVID-19. Anex Tour had announced in August 2019 it would acquire the vessel.Neset Kockar…
DP World Says Outlook Uncertain as Volumes Fall
Global port operator DP World recorded a fall of 8.8% in second quarter container volumes, warning on Monday the outlook remained uncertain.The coronavirus pandemic shut cities and factories worldwide for months, disrupting shipments and global supply chains, while some cities are now reintroducing curbs after a recent rise in infections.The Dubai state-owned company, which also operates logistics facilities, handled 16.7 million shipping containers in the second quarter, down from 18.3 million
Gustafsson Joins Ocean Technologies Group
Experienced maritime technology and ship management executive Johan Gustafsson has joined learning and operational technology company Ocean Technologies Group as Chief Revenue Officer.Based in the group’s Norwegian office, Gustafsson will lead account management, customer support and sales teams based globally across Ocean Technologies Group companies. He will report to group CEO Manish Singh.Gustafsson’s…
DP World Acquires Majority Stake in UNICO Logistics
Dubai-based DP World said it has agreed to acquire a 60% stake in South Korea's UNICO Logistics Co. Ltd. as the firm continues its expansion across the worldwide end-to-end logistics supply chain. The transaction, subject to regulatory clearances, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2020.Established in 2002 by H.J. Park and headquartered in South Korea, UNICO is one of the largest independent NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier) in South Korea…
How a US Navy Base in the Gulf Tackles Coronavirus
At the U.S. Navy’s main base in the Gulf, military staff are strictly abiding by rules to stem the spread of the new coronavirus.The Bahrain base houses the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT), operating in the Gulf amid high tensions between Iran and the United States.“It is necessary for everyone to assume that they are infected at all times,” said base commanding officer Captain Greg Smith…
New Vessel Goes to Work for Seacat Services in the UK
Offshore energy support vessel operator Seacat Services has taken delivery of Seacat Weatherly, the first of two new crew transfer vessels (CTV) ordered from the Diverse Marine shipyard in Cowes, U.K.Handed over despite the challenges and pressures created by the current coronavirus lockdown, Seacat Weatherly completed sea trials and has gone straight on to her first charter contract at a major U.K.
