Benchmark Dalian Iron Ore Futures Plunge
Chinese iron ore futures dived more than 8% late on Friday after the country's regulators and industry association issued warnings against recent unusual price moves of the key steelmaking ingredient.Earlier on Friday, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), which is the country's state planner, said it and the market regulator would dispatch investigation teams to the commodity exchange…
Two Gasoline Tankers Divert from Nigeria
Two tankers carrying gasoline loaded in Antwerp, Belgium, have turned back to their load-port after initially being destined for Lagos in Nigeria, Refinitiv Eikon ship tracking and sources said on Friday.The two tankers, STI Symphony and Velos Diamantis, turned back in last week. The U-turns happened after Nigeria rejected other gasoline cargoes loaded in Antwerp for containing too much methanol.Reuters…
Austria Resists Including Nord Stream 2 in EU Package of Russia Sanctions
Austria is sticking with its opposition to including the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in a package of sanctions against Moscow that the European Union is preparing in the event Russia invades Ukraine, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said on Friday.Austrian oil company OMV is one of Russian gas giant Gazprom's partners in the pipeline project connecting Russia to Germany, which has been completed but is not yet operational as it is awaiting German and EU regulatory approval.
New York’s First Offshore Wind Farm: Ørsted, Eversource Sanction 130MW South Fork Wind Project
Ørsted and Eversource have taken the final investment decision (FID) on the South Fork Wind project that will be New York’s first offshore wind farm. The FID comes after the South Fork Wind joint venture, owned 50/50 by Ørsted and Eversource, last month received final approval from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) for its construction and operations plan, the final in the agency’s review of the project.
Shipbuilding; Carnival Celebration floated out at Meyer Turku in Finland
The 185,000-gt cruis ships Carnival Celebration was floated out to the outfitting keel at Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, with the LNG-powered ship marking the culmination of Carnival Cruise Lines 50th birthday. The float-out started on Friday morning local time with the opening of the building dock valves and will culminate over the weekend. “The Float out marks the beginning of a very intensive phase in the ships construction, as the inside features and venues start taking form.
Aker Clean Hydro, Kuehne & Nagel in CO2-free Container Shipping Pact
Norway's Aker Clean Hydro and Swiss logistics group Kuehne & Nagel on Friday announced a cooperation to boost carbon-neutral container transport at sea, banking on hydrogen as one of the fuels that will make it possible.The partnership comes as Europe is trying to establish a flourishing hydrogen industry to help CO2-intense sectors, such as steel, construction and transport, cut emissions and wean off fossil fuels.As part of the cooperation…
VIDEO: U.S. Coast Guard Medevacs Fisherman Off Nantucket
The U.S. Coast Guard earlier this week medevaced a fisherman from a vessel 58 miles southeast of Nantucket, Massachussets.Coast Guard Sector Southeast New England watchstanders received a notification from the fishing vessel Jean Marie on Wednesday, reporting that a crewmember was having trouble breathing, and was requesting assistance.A Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Massachusetts, MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew launched…
Strong Vessel Rates Drive Baltic Index to Best Week in 8 Months
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index rose for a fourth straight session on Friday and registered its biggest weekly gain since June 2021, supported by strong demand across vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, and supramax vessels, rose 37 points, or 1.9%, to 1,977, its highest level since Jan. 12.The index has risen nearly 39% this week.The capesize index eased 47 points, or 2.5%, to 1,857.
Shipping Giant CMA CGM to Stop Transporting Plastic Waste
Global shipping group CMA CGM said on Friday it will stop transporting plastic waste on its vessels from June 1 to help curb pollution.One of the world's largest container lines, the French-based firm said it currently carries the equivalent of about 50,000 standard containers of plastic waste per year.Plastic has become a focus of international negotiations on pollution as the oil derivative has filled refuse sites and littered oceans.
'New Era in Dry Bulk Shipping': First Bunker Fueling for EPS' LNG-Fueled Bulker
Eastern Pacific Shipping's first LNG-fueled Newcastlemax bulk carrier in an order of 13 ABS-Classed vessels, has recently taken on its first load of LNG bunker fuel at Singapore.The 209,936 DWT dual-fuel vessel, Mount Tourmaline, was built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., China, and delivered to EPS on January 28, 2022.Captain Anil Singh, EPS Chief Operating Officer said: “Our fleet of…
European Group Lifts Funding to $4.6B to Prevent Plastic Pollution in Seas
A group of European development banks plan to double its funding for global efforts to stop plastic waste from polluting the world's oceans to 4 billion euros ($4.6 billion).The Clean Oceans Initiative, led by the French and German development banks and the European Investment Bank is the largest such grouping targeting plastic pollution of the sea.Around 8 million tonnes of plastic waste enters the oceans every year…
Renewables Assignments for Solstad's CSV Trio
Norwegian offshore support vessel owner Solstad Offshore ASA has found work for three construction support vessels, apparently all in the renewables space.Normand Australis has secured a 150-day contract for “Walk to Work” services on an offshore wind project in Asia, starting in March 2022.Normand Cutter has won a 110-day charter for a cable project in Northern Europe with the start-up this month.Also…
SP80: 80-knot Sailboat Demands High-Performance Sensing
Fischer Connectors’ solutions support the transmission of sensor data for the wind-powered SP80 boat setting out to reach the phenomenal speed of 80 knots, which if achieved will break the long-standing world sailing speed record of 65.45 knots.During the development of its boat that is now close to its final design phase, the SP80 team has chosen Fischer Connectors for the data-transmission solutions…
U.S. Navy: DDG(X) is a Large Surface Combatant with Room to Grow
“DDG-51 hull form is maxed out in nearly every mission area. Meanwhile, the threat marches on.”Rear Adm. Paul Schlise, director for surface warfareThe U.S. Navy’s highly successful USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) surface combatant program is still going strong and growing in capability. Nearly 40 years later, new ships are still being built. But, the navy said, the ship cannot support the systems of tomorrow…
Semco Maritime to Spruce Up 'Floatel Superior'
Offshore accommodation rig provider Floatel International has awarded a contract to Semco Maritime for service work on the semi-submersible accommodation unit Floatel Superior.Semco said that the harsh environment accommodation rig is expected to dock at Hanøytangen in Norway, mid-February. According to information on social media, the rig has already arrived.The Floatel Superior rig was last year deployed offshore Norway…
Marell Boats, Scania Develop Hybrid Interceptor
Sweden-based Marell Boats and Scania Power Solutions are working to develop what they say is are next-generation sustainable and technologically advanced vessels as they prepare the launch of the M17 Patrol vessel with a hybrid driveline. The companies said they were collaborating to create "a sustainable and state-of-the-art vessel to meet the increased demand for hybrid solutions." According to the two firms…
Solstad Offshore Sells Two AHTS Vessels
Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has this week sold two anchor handling tug and supply vessels, in line with its objective to reduce fleet size to a level of 80-90 vesselsThrough its subsidiary Solstad Rederi AS, the company sold the AHTS Normand Master and Normand Mariner.The delivery of the vessels to the new owner took place on Thursday, and Solstad said the sale of the vessels would result in an immaterial accounting effect.Earlier this month…
MOL Nets Charter in Russia for New Ice-breaking Condensate Carrier
Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has signed a charter contract for a newbuilding ice-breaking tanker that will transport condensate from the Arctic LNG 2 Project on Russia’s Gydan Peninsula.The contract was signed by a MOL subsidiary with the project company, whose largest shareholder is Russia-based PAO NOVATEK. The vessel, slated for delivery in 2024, will be constructed in China by Guangzhou Shipyard International Company…
Heerema's Giant Crane Vessel Sleipnir to Install LNG BCM on INPEX's Ichthys Explorer Platform
Dutch offshore installation company Heerema Marine Contractors has been selected by Japan's INPEX as a contractor of choice for the transport and installation of the 4,800 metric ton Ichthys LNG Booster Compression Module (BCM), offshore W. Australia.The module will be installed on the Ichthys Explorer Central Processing Facility, located off the northwest coast of Western Australia, as part of the…
Safe Concordia Flotel Stays with BP in Trinidad
BP Trinidad and Tobago has chartered the Safe Concordia offshore accommodation rig from Prosafe, to provide gangway-connected operations at Cassia C offshore platform in Trinidad. The contract will last around 160 days and will be a straight continuation of Safe Concordia's current engagement at Cassia C. The new contract will run from March 24, 2022, to August 31, 2022. BP Trinidad and Tobago will…