Ever Given: “The Captain Has Command of the Ship at All Times”
The Panama Maritime Authority has submitted its accident investigation report on the Ever Given to the IMO which includes the conclusion that “the Captain has command of the ship at all times.”On 23 March 2021, the Suez Canal was blocked for six days after the grounding of Ever Given between March 23 and March 29, 2021. The 20,000 TEU container vessel was struck by strong winds and ended up wedged across the waterway with its bow and stern stuck in the canal banks…
Capsized Towboat Spills Diesel in Alabama
A partially sunken towboat is discharging diesel fuel near Florence, Ala.The U.S. Coast Guard said on Monday it is responding to the incident alongside partner agencies after Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley received notification at approximately 2 p.m. Sunday from RMB Marine Services reporting the towboat Michael R had partially sank in the Port of Florence, adjacent to mile marker 257 on the Tennessee…
SHI Receives Order for 16 Methanol-Powered Ships
Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has signed a shipbuilding contract for 16 16,000 TEU methanol-powered container ships from a shipowner in Asia.Evergreen Shipping’s subsidiary Evergreen Marine (Asia) has placed an order with SHI for 16 vessels and a separate order for eight 16,000 TEU with Japan’s Nihon Shipyard.The order amount was KRW 3,959.3 billion ($3.1 billion), the largest ever for a single ship contract, says SHI.
Renewable Production Needed to Make Methanol a Viable Marine Fuel -LR
As technology feasibility continues to grow for methanol as a marine fuel, the main challenges for the industry’s adoption of it are investment and community readiness, according to a new report from Lloyd’s Register (LR).The report, "Fuel for Thought: Methanol", found that technology for methanol usage as a marine fuel is feasible, available and mature in certain cases. Most engine makers will have dual fuel engine models in the near term…
Insurers Reviewing Black Sea Ship Cover After Russia Quits Deal
Insurers are reviewing whether to freeze cover for any ships willing to sail to Ukraine after Russia on Monday quit a U.N.-backed deal that allows the export of grain through a wartime Black Sea safe corridor, industry sources said.The agreement, brokered by Turkey last July, aimed to alleviate a global food crisis by allowing Ukrainian grain blocked by Russia's February 2022 invasion of its neighbour to be exported safely."Due to the collapse of the Black Sea corridor deal…
Killer Whales Biting Boats? Close Encounters of the Curious Kind
Off the coast of Spain and Portugal, killer whales have been biting boats. And the famous beluga whale nicknamed “Hvaldimir” has popped up again – this time in Sweden. When first spotted in Norway in 2019, wearing a suspicious harness, some suggested he could be a Russian spy.These unusual human-wildlife interactions raise questions about managing risk. Both situations present a maritime safety concern.
Ailing Liftboat Crewmember Medevaced in US Gulf
An ailing crewmember was medevaced from a liftboat approximately three miles south of Pecan Island, La., Saturday morning, the U.S. Coast Guard said.The Coast Guard said its watchstanders at Sector New Orleans received a call at approximately 1:12 a.m. from the captain of the vessel requesting assistance to medevac a 42-year-old man on board reportedly having heart-attack-like symptoms.The watchstanders…
World Fuel Services Completes First LNG Bunkering in China for Hapag-Lloyd
World Fuel Services Corporation has completed a milestone liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering operation for the refueling of a carrier at a Chinese port, with the new Hapag-Lloyd ship Berlin Express becoming only the second carrier to be refueled with bonded LNG in the port.With the support of both the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port authority and local supplier CNOOC, the dual-fuel Berlin Express took delivery of 6,000 cubic meters of bonded LNG fuel in an operation that lasted around 20 hours.
Newcastlemax Bulker Delivered to Himalaya Shipping
Dry bulk shipping company Himalaya Shipping announced it has taken delivery of the fifth in a series of 12 dual-fuel 210,000 dwt Newcastlemax bulk carriers being built by New Times Shipyard.The vessel, Mount Matterhorn, will commence a 32- to 38-month time charter plus an option for 11 to 13 months and will earn an index-linked rate, reflecting a significant premium to a standard Capesize vessel, Himalaya said.
Port Liberte Ferry Service Relaunched
City-run ferry operations have been relaunched from Jersey City’s southernmost coast in an effort to close transit gaps and create more affordable and efficient transportation options for low- and middle-income residents outside of the downtown area. Ferry service from and to the Port Liberte terminal shut down at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020. Jersey City Mayor Steven M. Fulop's…
Why Does the Black Sea Grain Deal's Expiry Matter?
A deal allowing Ukraine to export grain via the Black Sea will expire at the end of Monday after Russia said it will suspend its participation.The deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July, aimed to alleviate a global food crisis by allowing Ukrainian grain blocked by the Russia-Ukraine conflict to be exported safely.WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?Ukraine is a major producer of grains and oilseeds…
Baltic Dry Index Slips on Weaker Vessel Demand
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, fell on Monday, pressured by lower rates across vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, was down 17 points, or 1.6%, at 1,073 — its lowest since July 3.The capesize index fell 41 points, or 2.5%, to a two-week low of 1,614.Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes carrying commoditi
BHGI Hires Naval Architects Althouse and Kennedy
Bristol, R.I. based naval architecture, marine engineering and consulting firm Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. (BHGI) announced the continued expansion of its naval architecture and marine engineering firm with two new hires: Taylor Althouse and Kasey Kennedy.Althouse joined BHGI as a Naval Architect. Althouse graduated from the University of Michigan with a Master of Science in Engineering in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
Confirmed: HAV to Design and Equip ESVAGT's New Methanol-Fuelled Offshore Wind Vessel
Norway's HAV Group has signed the final contract to design and equip another methanol-fuelled offshore wind service operation vessel (SOV) for the Danish offshore vessel owner ESVAGT.HAV Group said Monday it had signed the final contract with ESVAGT’s chosen shipyard, Cemre Shipyard in TurkeyHAV Group will deliver both the ship design and an integrated equipment package, including the propulsion system, engines, propellers, and positioning system.
Last Ship Leaves Ukraine Port Under Black Sea Grain Deal
The last ship to travel under a U.N.-brokered deal that allows the safe Black Sea export of Ukrainian grain left the port of Odesa early on Sunday ahead of a deadline to extend the agreement…
Höegh Autoliners Opts for Four More Aurora Class Car Carriers
Norwegian shipping company Höegh Autoliners announced on Monday that it has exercised its option to construct four additional multi-fuel and net zero carbon ready Aurora class car carrier vessels at China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd (CMHI) in Haimen.This brings the number of total vessels under the newbuilding program to 12 vessels, all of which will be built by CMHI. Höegh Autoliners has an option to build another four vessels (vessels 13-16)…
Russia Refuses to Renew Black Sea Grain Deal; Says No Guarantees for Ships
Russia refused on Monday to extend the agreement that has enabled Ukraine to export grain from its Black Sea ports for the past year, complaining that promises to free up its own shipments of food and fertilisers had not been kept.Russia's Foreign Ministry said it had notified Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations that "without Russia's participation, the 'Black Sea Initiative' ceases to function from July 18".This meant the withdrawal of safety guarantees for shipping…
Italy Impounds Migrant Charity's Rescue Vessel
Italian authorities said on Wednesday they had impounded a ship involved in migrant rescue operations in the central Mediterranean Sea, citing safety procedure irregularities.Under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government, installed last year, Italy has taken a tougher stance towards migrant rescue NGOs, accusing them of facilitating the work of people traffickers.The Ocean Viking ship was seized while docked in the port of Civitavecchia, northwest of Rome on the Mediterranean coast
China Drives Japanese Fishing Ship from Contested Islands
Chinese coast guard authorities said it took "necessary control measures" and drove away a Japanese fishing vessel that had entered "territorial waters" around Senkaku Islands, state media reported."We urge the Japanese side to immediately cease all illegal activities in the waters and ensure that similar incidents do not recur," China Marine Police spokesperson Gan Yu said, according to the report late Thursday.China calls the islands Diaoyu while Japan calls them Senkaku.
UN Scrambles to Save Black Sea Grain Deal Ahead of Monday Deadline
The European Commission is helping the United Nations and Turkey try to extend a deal allowing the Black Sea export of Ukraine grain and is open to "explore all solutions," a European Union spokesperson said on Thursday, ahead of the deal's possible expiration on Monday.The U.N. and Turkey brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative with Russia and Ukraine in July 2022 to help alleviate a global food crisis worsened by Moscow's invasion and blockade of Ukrainian ports.
