Shipping Industry Proposes Levy to Accelerate Zero Carbon Future
Leading shipping associations have proposed creating a global levy on carbon emissions from ships to help speed up the industry's efforts to go greener.With about 90% of world trade transported by sea, global shipping accounts for nearly 3% of the world's CO2 emissions and the sector is under growing pressure to get cleaner.For the first time, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and Intercargo jointly proposed a levy based on mandatory contributions by ships trading globally…
U.S. Offshore Oil Output Still Mostly Down a Week after Hurricane Ida
Damage to oil production facilities in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico kept output largely halted on Sunday, a week after Hurricane Ida made landfall, according to offshore regulator the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).Energy companies have been coping with damaged platforms and onshore power outages and logistical issues, slowing efforts to restart production. Some 88% of crude oil output…
Divers to Try to Locate Oil Spill Source in U.S. Gulf of Mexico
A private dive team will try to locate the source of a suspected oil spill spotted in the Bay Marchand area of the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, after Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc in the region this week, the U.S. Coast Guard said on Saturday.U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite images, first reported by the Associated Press on Wednesday, showed a miles-long brownish-black slick spreading in coastal waters about two miles off Port Fourchon…
Power Lines Blocking Mississippi River to be Removed Friday
Downed power lines blocking a segment of the Mississippi River since Hurricane Ida made landfdall on Sunday are expected to be removed on Friday afternoon by Entergy Corp, allowing for vessel traffic in the area, the New Orleans Board of Trade said.More than 20 vessels were moving northbound on the Mississippi River on Friday after portions of the waterway reopened on Thursday. Anchorages in Louisiana between Burnside and Baton Rouge were expected to fill quickly…
Subchapter M: Is it Time to Press Pause?
For many, the path to Subchapter M compliance has been anything but smooth sailing. And while progress has been made through the growing pains, some feel it’s time for the U.S. Coast Guard to pump the brakes.A funny thing happened on the way to compliance. We all learned that nobody was quite ready for Subchapter M.Sure, we had gone through the law with a fine-toothed combed and had self-inspected vessels and trained crews…
Ammonia Bunkering Terminal Project Gets Large Governmental Grant
Azane Fuel Solutions’ first project “Ammonia Fuel Bunkering Network”, which will build a green ammonia bunkering terminal has received confirmation that it will be granted NOK 89 million (EUR 8,600,000) through the Norwegian Green Platform Initiative. This was announced by Minister of Climate and Environment in Norway, Sveinung Rotevatn in Florø, Norway.The project partners, spanning the entire value chain for ammonia as a marine fuel…
Sovcomflot, Gazprom Neft Partner Up to Decarbonize Shipping
Russian shipping firm Sovcomflot and oil firm Gazprom Neft have signed an agreement to develop innovative technologies and use low-carbon fuels in maritime transport.The document was signed by Igor Tonkovidov, President and CEO of Sovcomflot, and Alexander Dyukov, Chairman of the Management Board, CEO, Gazprom Neft.The agreement defines that the two Russian companies will seek cooperation opportunities…
Baltic Dry Index Logs First Weekly Dip in Seven
The Baltic Exchange's main dry bulk sea freight index retreated to a two-week low on Friday on lower rates for all vessels, steering it to its first weekly decline in seven.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize vessels, fell 57 points, or 1.4%, to 3,944, its lowest since Aug. 18.The main index fell about 7% for the week.The capesize index declined 91 points…
Insurers Bracing for $1B Hit from Hurricane Ida Damage to Offshore Facilities
Insurers are bracing for a hit of about $1 billion from physical damage to offshore rigs and structures from Hurricane Ida, according to preliminary estimates from U.S. property data and analytics company CoreLogic.The estimate did not include losses from production disruption and could be revised over time, a spokesperson for CoreLogic said.The volume of oil shut in by the hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico rose to 1.7 million barrels per day of offshore output…
Off the Boil: LNG Tankers Burn More Oil as Gas Prices Soar
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers are burning more dirty fuel oil than normal after the price of their super-chilled cargo soared above that of oil, trade and shipping sources said.LNG tankers often use some of their cargo, stored in liquid form at minus 163 degrees Celsius, for power, as a small portion tends to evaporate or "boil off" during transit and needs to be removed from the tanks anyway…
Russia Gearing Up for First LNG-fueled Icebreaker as Arctic Shipping Grows
Metals miner Nornickel said it will participate in the design and building of Russia's first dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) and diesel icebreaker to prepare for more capacity in the environmentally sensitive Arctic region.Russia, which has a fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers, has long considered LNG-powered icebreaking ships to develop the Northeast Sea Route into an international shipping lane from Arctic waters.Nornickel…
Offshore Vessel Hits Platform at South Pars Field, Off Iran
An offshore vessel has this week allided with an offshore gas platform in Iran's South Pars gas field, according to Pars Oil and Gas Company.The incident happened Wednesday when the vessel hit the SPD12B gas platform in the Persian Gulf.A photo shared by POGC shows a vessel could be a fast crew supplier-type. The company didn't share vessel details.According to POGC, there were no casualties and the…
Russia Won't Restrict Other Countries Using Northern Sea Route
Russia will not restrict other countries using the Northern Sea Route across its northern flank, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday at an economic forum.The United States has previously accused Russia of demanding that foreign vessels request permissions to pass in the Arctic region and requiring Russian maritime pilots to board the ships, while threatening to use force against vessels failing to comply. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Edmund Blair)
Noble Corp. Sends Force Majeure Notice to Shell over Drillship Damaged in Storm
Offshore drilling contractor Noble Corporation has sent a force majeure notice to its client Shell over the Noble Globetrotter II drillship contract after the rig…
Solstad Offshore Wins Deals for 7 PSVs in West Africa
Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore said Friday it had secured contracts for seven platform supply vessels.Without sharing the client identity Solstad…
Sanmar Teams up with Corvus to Develop Zero-emissions Tugs
Corvus Energy and Sanmar Shipyards are teaming up with the aim to develop a new range of zero-emission and hybrid tugs.The partners signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly explore and establish a path for the future supply and integration of energy supply systems and fuel cell technology for an even wider range of innovative and cost-effective electric and hybrid tugs, with the plan to…
American Cruise Lines' New Ship Kicks Off Inaugural Season
American Cruise Lines' new river cruise ship American Melody is ready to kick off its inaugural season on Friday along the line’s longest Mississippi River cruise.The 22-day complete Mississippi River cruise had originally been scheduled to operate from New Orleans, La., to St. Paul, Minn., but due to Hurricane Ida, guests will embark in Natchez, Miss.Through the end of December 2021, American Melody will also operate eight-day Upper Mississippi River cruises between St. Louis, Mo., and St.
Baton Rouge, New Orleans Ports Reopen After Ida, Key Oil Hubs Remain Shut
Most ports along the U.S. Gulf Coast had reopened on Thursday following lengthy closures from Hurricane Ida, which lashed southern Louisiana with 150-mile-per-hour winds that caused extensive infrastructure damage and floods.Two of Louisiana’s main ports, New Orleans and Baton Rouge, reopened late on Wednesday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. They joined the already functional terminals of Panama City…
Nine Injured on Noble Drillship During Ida
The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating damage to a Noble Corp drillship hit by Hurricane Ida while operating in the Gulf of Mexico, a spokesperson said on Thursday.Nine crew members suffered minor injuries when the storm hit on Sunday, Noble said. Workers were treated onboard and four were taken to shore for evaluation, Noble's vice-president for Investor Relations Craig Muirhead said in a statement.The U.S.
More Grain Terminals Found Damaged by Ida, Exports May Stall for Weeks
Grain shippers on the U.S. Gulf Coast reported more damage from Hurricane Ida to their terminals on Wednesday as Cargill Inc confirmed damage to a second facility, while power outages across southern Louisiana kept all others shuttered.Global grains trader Cargill Inc said its Westwego, La., terminal was damaged by Ida, days after confirming more extensive damage at its only other Louisiana grain export facility…