Energy Opinion: China May End Australian Coal Import Ban
Talk that China may end its unofficial ban on imports of Australian coal is unlikely to result in any significant increase in shipments to the world's biggest coal buyer.Media reports last week suggested that Beijing is considering lifting the informal embargo, put in place in the second half of 2020 as tensions escalated with Canberra over a series of issues.Coal wasn't the only commodity affected, as China placed restrictions or bans on imports of barley, seafood and wine, among others.The uno
Oil Falls Anticipating Fed Hike will Dent Demand
Oil fell on Monday, reversing earlier gains but continuing a recent losing streak, on concerns that an expected increase in interest rates in the U.S., the world's biggest oil user, may limit fuel demand growth.Brent crude LCOc1 futures for September settlement dropped 48 cents, or 0.5%, to $102.72 a barrel at 0205 GMT, down for a fourth day.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 futures for September delivery fell 65 cents…
Daewoo Shipbuilding Bags $500m Order
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co Ltd. reportedly an order for nearly $500 million (649.5 billion won) to build a pair of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers for a European company.
17 dead after boat carrying migrants capsizes in The Bahamas
Seventeen people died after a boat carrying dozens of Haitian migrants capsized off the coast of The Bahamas, authorities said on Sunday, as more Haitians attempt…
Donald L Blount: 1935 - 2022
Donald L. Blount, an international esteemed technical expert in the field of high-speed craft hydrodynamics died on July 14, 2022 at the age of 87.Donald was driven all his life to do one job: design high-speed powerboats that could comfortably and efficiently run through rough water. His fascination with hydrodynamics began when he was a Virginia Tech co-op student working at the David Taylor Model Basin…
Ship Insurers Sail Into Unknown With Ukraine Grain Risks After Deal Reached
A number of insurance underwriters are interested in providing cover for grain shipments from Ukraine after an agreement was reached to re-open Black Sea ports, although the first shipments are expected to be weeks away, industry sources said on Friday.Russia and Ukraine signed a landmark deal on Friday to reopen the ports for grain exports, raising hopes that an international food crisis aggravated by the Russian invasion can be eased.
Ukraine, Russia Sign Deal to Reopen Grain Export Ports
Russia and Ukraine signed a landmark deal on Friday to reopen Ukrainian Black Sea ports for grain exports, raising hopes that an international food crisis aggravated by the Russian invasion can be eased.The accord crowned two months of talks brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, a NATO member that has good relations with both Russia and Ukraine and controls the straits leading into the Black Sea.Speaking at the signing ceremony in Istanbul, U.N.
Truck Blockade at Port of Oakland Stretches into Day Three
Independent truckers protesting California's new "gig worker" law blockaded California's third-busiest seaport for the third straight day on Friday, delaying shipments at the state's top agricultural export hub and adding to U.S. supply chain headaches.Truck gates at all four Port of Oakland marine terminals remain closed to truck traffic on Friday. Oakland International Container Terminal (OICT), which handles about 70% of port cargo…
New Electric Tug to Be Built in Japan
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) announced its group company SEAGATE CORPORATION CO., LTD.(SGC) will build new electric tugboat.The new tug is equipped with a propulsion system running on Hybrid EV system. It has electric motor as a main power source running by large capacity lithium-ion battery charged by land charger.
MARAD Awards $19.6 Million in Small Shipyard Grants
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced $19.6 million in grant awards to 24 small shipyards in 19 states through the Small Shipyard Grant Program.The funds will help awardees—many of which being family-run businesses—modernize, increase productivity and expand local employment opportunities while competing in the global marketplace, MARAD said.“Small businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy…
All American Marine Delivers Whale-watching Vessel to Puget Sound Express
Bellingham, Wash. shipbuilder All American Marine (AAM) has delivered the new whale-watching vessel Swiftsure to Puget Sound Express (PSE).The vessel was modeled after the All American Marine built and Teknicraft designed Saratoga, delivered in the Spring of 2018. The larger 77’ Swiftsure will maintain performance while adding space to Puget Sound Express’ whale watch and eco-tourism business, the builder said.The 150-passenger…
Port of Portland Seeking Bids to Build New Dredge Tender
The Port of Portland, in Oregon, is soliciting proposals from U.S. shipyards for the construction of a new dredge tender to replace the decades old W.L. Williams.Designed by Glosten, the new vessel will be a 69-foot-long, twin-screw, multipurpose vessel powered by two Caterpillar Inc. C18 EPA Tier 3 engines. Bids are due by August 30.The tender will mainly be used for towing dredge discharge pipeline strings, pushing barges, and towing barges in support of the port’s dredging operations.
Contract Workers at Daewoo Shipyard Reach Deal to End Strike
South Korean contract workers at the country's No.3 shipbuilder agreed on Friday to end their strike after accepting a much smaller wage hike than demanded as well as job guarantees, union officials and subcontractors said.Since late last month, about 100 sub-contractors pressing for an increase of 30% have occupied the main dock at the shipyard run by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME)…
USS Santa Barbara Delivered to the US Navy
Mobil, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA on Thursday delivered the future USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32), the 16th Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) delivered by the company for the U.S. Navy.Delivery documents were signed on board the ship and followed the completion of acceptance trials during which the ship’s major systems and equipment were tested to demonstrate mission readiness. The ship’s…
St. Johns Ship Building Starts Building CTV for US Offshore Wind Farm
Florida-based St. Johns Ship Building has started construction of a Jones Act-compliant crew transfer vessel which will serve the Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind farm in the U.S. Atlantic.The shipyard informed of the keel laying ceremony for the Incat Crowther 30 design crew transfer vessel on Thursday via social media. An image shared to accompany the post shows the ceremony was held on June 30."We could not be happier to have Hornblower and their partners return to St.
Delfin Seeks More Time to Build US Gulf of Mexico LNG Export Plant
U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) developer Delfin LNG has asked federal regulators to extend the amount of time it has to put the onshore part of its proposed Gulf of Mexico floating LNG export project off Louisiana into service until September 2023.The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) said on Thursday that Delfin sought the extension on July 15.Delfin is one of several North American…
SBM Offshore Closes $1.75B Financing for Its Largest FPSO Yet
Dutch FPSO leasing specialist SBM Offshore said Thursday it had completed the US$1.75 billion project financing for the FPSO One Guyana. The company has previously said that this would be the company's largest FPSO so far. It will be deployed at ExxonMobil's Yellowtail development, offshore Guyana.The Dutch firm, which is behind all four FPSO projects in Guyana, said the One Guyana project financing was secured by a consortium of 15 international banks.
US Cruise Operators' Recovery Runs Into Rough Weather
Andrea Mather's plans for a long-awaited summer cruise around the Hawaiian islands with her financial analyst husband unraveled after her booking with Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America was canceled due to a staffing shortage.It was the second time this year that the 55-year-old homemaker's plan to go on a cruise was scuppered.The cruise industry is sailing in choppy waters yet again as it has to deal with a storm of labor problems…
Cameras to Replace Peacekeepers at Strategic Red Sea Strait
Remote-controlled cameras will take over responsibility from U.S.-led peacekeepers for ensuring international shipping retains freedom of access to the Gulf of Aqaba, whose coastline is shared by Israel and three Arab nations, officials said.Tiran island, which lies in the straits of the same name at the mouth of the gulf, was handed to Saudi Arabia from Egypt along with next-door Sanafir island in 2017.During a visit to Israel and Saudi Arabia last week, U.S.
Protests Halt Cargo Movement at Port of Oakland
Protesting truckers stopped traffic on Wednesday at a Northern California port, one of the busiest in the United States, as they demonstrated against a new state labor law that makes it harder for independent truckers to operate.Drivers picketed gates and blocked other truckers from hauling cargo in and out of the port. The protests in Oakland began on Monday and have grown larger and more disruptive with each passing day.Late on Wednesday…
