Brazil's Parana ports face unusually busy fertilizer import season
Ports in one of Brazil's biggest farming states are handling an unusual amount of fertilizer after importers rushed to secure supplies amid fears that sanctions on Belarus and Russia would curtail trade, the Parana port authority said.Brazilian importers are keen to secure crop nutrient supplies even if they have nowhere to store them as Brazil relies on imports for 85% of its fertilizer needs.Paranagua…
Greece Seizes Russian Tanker
Greece has impounded a Russian oil tanker off the island of Evia, the Greek coastguard said on Tuesday, as part of European Union sanctions imposed on Moscow over…
Argentine Maritime Workers Plan 24-hour Strike
Argentine ship workers will stage a 24-hour strike on Thursday to protest what they call delays by the government in awarding tenders to the sector, although the action is not expected to affect activity at key grains ports in and around Rosario.The Maritime, Port and Naval Industry Federation (Fempinra) announced the strike on Tuesday, less than a week after protests by grains truck drivers snarled…
Port Houston Reports 20% Cargo Increase
Container volume at Port Houston in March totaled 308,557 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). That brings the total for just the first three months of 2022 to 903,383 TEUs, an increase of 20% year-to-date over last year’s record year.“Port Houston is constantly evaluating growth within the industry and developing innovative solutions to accommodate that growth,” Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther said.
Crew Member Killed in Containership Fire off the Philippines
One crew member was killed and three more have been reported injured in a containership fire off the Philippines. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it responded to a fire aboard the Philippines-flagged General Romulo anchored off Talisay City, Cebu on Sunday.Nineteen of the ship's 20 crew members have been rescued by the Coast Guard, and three of those crew members are being treated for burns.
Celebrity Beyond Departs Chantiers de l’Atlantique Shipyard
Celebrity Cruises’ newest cruise ship Celebrity Beyond has departed the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France en route to Southampton, U.K. where the newbuild is slated to commence its maiden voyage later this month.The third in a series of five Edge Series luxury cruise ships ordered by Royal Caribbean's Celebrity Cruises—each reportedly worth $1 billion—the 140,600 GT Celebrity…
BIO-UV Adds FGS as Italian Representative
Ballast water treatment system manufacturer BIO-UV Group announced it has tapped La Spezia-based Fluid Global Solutions (FGS) for the sale and delivery of its BIO-SEA ballast water treatment systems to Italian operators, builders and repairers of all ship types, including offshore and naval vessels.FGS, provider of pumps and spares to the Italian maritime sector, will reinforce existing partners in Italy…
Gunvor Reports Highest Profit Since 2015
Global energy trader Gunvor Group reported a net profit of $726 million for 2021, the highest since 2015, buoyed by its natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) divisions, the company said on Tuesday.The profit was the highest since 2015 when net profit was boosted by the sale of most of its Russian assets and was up on the $320 million the Geneva-based company made in 2020 when refining impairments…
Gall Thomson Launches Emergency Mooring Release System for Offshore Applications
Gall Thomson has launched an innovative new automatic actuation system, promising to minimize safety risks associated with the manual emergency release of mooring systems during FPSO tandem offloading ocean towage, heading control, positioning and decommissioning-"PODx minimizes the risk of personnel injury, damage to equipment and subsequent downtime by remotely releasing mooring hawser chains under full load…
Libya's NOC Declares Force Majeure at Brega Oil Port
Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) declared force majeure at the Brega oil port on Tuesday, saying it was unable to fulfil its commitments towards the oil market."At a time when oil prices are witnessing a significant recovery due to the increase in global demand... Libyan crude is subjected to a wave of illegal closures," the state-owned company said in a statement.(Reuters - Reporting by Ahmed ElumamiWriting by Ahmad ElhamyEditing by Louise Heavens)
Michell Bearings Opens Office in Philadelphia
Michell Bearings has announced the opening of a U.S sales and engineering office in Fort Washington, Philadelphia.The office opening follows the incorporation of the U.S business, Michell Bearings Inc., in 2021 to better support customers in North America, especially those in the U.S. naval industry.Key contacts in the Fort Washington office are Joseph Wilkes, VP Engineering Americas, and Jamie Wright…
Tech File: New Motor for Anchor, Mooring Winches
BEN Buchele introduced a robust, low-maintenance three-phase asynchronous motor whose stable grey cast iron design is touted to withstand the harshest environmental conditions: salt water, salty air and extreme temperatures from -31 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit (-35 to 50 degrees Celsius). Depending on the requirements, the motor can be designed without a fan, with its own fan or with a forced cooling fan for the operating modes S1 (continuous operation)…
Tech File: Propelling into a Cleaner, Leaner Future
An upgrade by Kongsberg Maritime of the waterjets on a catamaran ferry operated by the family-run firm of AG EMS brings a new level of efficiency and environmental consideration to a route traversed by the company for 143 years.Claus Hirsch, the fleet manager with AG EMS, is a likable and personable individual. His easy demeanor suggests that he is contented with his lot in life, and no one would blame him for that.
Seabulk Spartan Sports Propulsion Package from Berg
The high-powered tug Spartan joined the Seabulk fleet, featuring a fully integrated hybrid propulsion plant from Berg Propulsion. The tug is already operational at Port Arthur following delivery by Master Boat Builders, and the Robert Allan-designed RApport 3000 vessel is the first of two 90-ton bollard pull tugs using the Berg package, with the second due in service in Q3 2022.In addition to Berg MTA 628 azimuthing thrusters…
NYK, Sanyo Kaiji Start Japan's First Ship-to-Ship Biofuel Supply Trial for Tugboats
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and its affiliate Sanyo Kaiji Kabushiki Kaisha (Sanyo Kaiji) have started a continuous three-month test navigation using biodiesel supplied by Toyotsu Energy Corporation in tugboats operated by Sanyo Kaiji. The biofuel will be supplied via ship-to-ship using a bunkering ship to supply fuel to the tug, the first time for this to be done in Japan. Three test trials are planned to take place by July.
Hybrid-electric Biomass Fuel Carrier to get ABB Propulsion
One of its most significant initiatives in the Japanese shipping industry's push toward net zero is e5 Lab Inc., a consortium comprising Asahi Tanker Co., Ltd., Exeno Yamamizu Corporation, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. and Mitsubishi Corporation, with the purpose of developing renewably powered commercial ships.e5 Lab recently unveiled ROBOSHIP – a design for a biomass fuel carrier, powered by a fully standardized, electric propulsion system to attain zero emission operations at harbour.
KOTUG to Buy Seaways International
Dutch marine services and towage company KOTUG has agreed to buy offshore support vessel firm Seaways International, in what is the largest acquisition in KOTUG's history.KOTUG said the move, of an undisclosed value, was part of its strategy to expand its business in assisting worldwide floating facilities such as FSO, FPSO, FLNG, FSRU, and SPM Terminals. "In addition, it will further consolidate the…
Historic US Warship Capsizes in Buffalo
A retired U.S. Navy destroyer USS The Sullivans has capsized after suffering a severe hull breech while moored on the Buffalo waterfront.On April 13, the 376-foot Fletcher-class destroyer-turned-museum experienced an electrical power-loss resulting in the failure of the onboard water discharge pumps. Progressive flooding and extreme weather conditions caused the vessel to list 45 degrees on its starboard…
LNG Carrier Rescues Injured Sailors
A Malta-flagged liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier assisted in the rescue of two injured sailors off the coast of Puerto Rico.The BW Lilac, part of the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System (AMVER), diverted to assist two injured mariners who reportedly sustained injuries aboard the 32-foot sailing vessel Uplace and were in need of care ashore.U.S. Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San…
Ships Carrying Russian Fertilizers Find Way to Brazil Despite Sanctions
Despite concern that sanctions against Russia would cause a shortfall of fertilizer in Brazil, preliminary shipping data shows orders being fulfilled and vessels heading for Brazil…
