Chinese Fishing Crews Ensnared in Taiwan Tensions
As China sends warships and fighter jets to the Taiwan Strait after a U.S. visit by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, deemed a separatist by Beijing, fishing crews plying the narrow waterway say they fret more about their livelihood than politics.For years, Chinese fishermen trawling for fish, shrimp and crab have played cat and mouse with Taiwanese authorities as they closely track boats that near the…
Malaysia Defends Its Energy Ops in the South China Sea
Malaysia said on Saturday it was firmly committed to protecting its sovereign rights and interests in the South China Sea after China expressed concern about Malaysian energy projects in a part of the sea that China also claims.Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said China was worried about activity by the state energy firm Petronas in a part of the South China Sea that Malaysia says is its territory.Anwar said he was open to negotiations with China…
Russia Warns West: We May Work Around the Black Sea Grain Deal
Russia warned the West on Friday that unless obstacles to its exports of grain and fertilisers were removed, then Ukraine would have to export grain over land and Moscow would work outside the UN-brokered landmark grain export deal.The Black Sea grain deal is an attempt by the United Nations to ease a food crisis that predated the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but was made worse by the most deadly war in Europe since World War Two.The deal…
Saudi-led Coalition Eases Restrictions on Yemen's Imports
A Saudi Arabian-led military coalition lifted eight-year-old restrictions on imports headed for Yemen's southern ports, the internationally recognized authorities said, in a sign that peace talks are progressing with the Houthi group in the north.This follows the easing of restrictions in February on commercial goods entering the Houthi-held western port of Hodeidah, the country's main seaport, as…
Scotland's New First Minister Yousaf Visits Port of Aberdeen
Scotland's new First Minister Humza Yousaf and Just Transition Secretary Màiri McAllan this week visited Port of Aberdeen's £400 million South Harbour expansion.According to Port of Aberdeen, the duo heard firsthand how the port "supports Scotland's Just Transition and creates new opportunities in energy, trade, decarbonization, and tourism."Senior leaders from the port, Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce…
Ukraine Could Export a Further 15.6 mln T of Grain This Season
Ukraine may export a further 15.6 million tonnes of grain in the April to June quarter, which would unexpectedly lift this season's exports to nearly 53 million tonnes, the AgroPortal agency quoted the first deputy farm minister as saying on Thursday.Ukraine's 2022 grain harvest fell sharply to around 53 million tonnes due to Russia's invasion of the country, from a record 86 million tonnes in 2021.Millions…
First Jones Act-compliant Offshore Wind Farm SOV Hits Halfway Mark
U.S. offshore shipbuilder and shipowner Edison Chouest this week marked the 50-percent completion milestone for the U.S.-flagged ECO Edison, the first Jones Act-compliant wind farm SOV. Senior executives from offshore wind developers Ørsted and Eversource toured the Edison Chouest Offshore shipyard in Louisiana to see the progress on the SOV.ECO Edison will be delivered in 2024 and immediately provide operational support out of Port Jefferson…
Swedish Prosecutor Believes State Actor Behind Nord Stream Pipeline Blasts
A state actor's involvement in the blast of the Nord Stream pipelines last year is the "absolute main scenario", though confirming identity will prove difficult, the Swedish prosecutor investigating the attack said on Thursday.In September 2022, several unexplained underwater explosions ruptured the Nord Stream 1 and newly-built Nord Stream 2 pipelines that link Russia and Germany across the Baltic Sea.
Euroseas CEO: New Charter for 'Synergy Keelung' Demonstrates Containership Market Resilience
Greece-based shipowner Euroseas has secured a new charter of its container vessel M/V “Synergy Keelung” for a period of between a minimum of twenty-four and a maximum…
World Court says it Can Rule on Guyana-Venezuela Border Dispute
Judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday ruled they had jurisdiction over a long-running border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, which could determine which country has rights to territory rich in oil and gas.Guyana in 2018 asked the ICJ, also known as the World Court, to confirm that the border was laid down in an 1899 arbitration between Venezuela and the then-colony of British Guiana.
Rare Shipments of North Sea Forties Crude Head to East Coast Refiners
U.S. and Canadian refiners have turned to North Sea "Forties" crude oil for the first time in seven years in the latest sign of changing global oil flows from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
New Mississippi Riverboat Passes Sea Trials
The newest riverboat for the Mississippi River passed sea trials this week and is on its way to New Orleans for its inaugural season on the mighty river.American Cruise Lines announced today, that it has accepted delivery of the American Serenade from Chesapeake Shipbuilding as scheduled.American Serenade is the sixth riverboat in the line’s new series, and the 18th small ship built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding for the U.S.
Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding Executive Suspended Over Criminal Fraud Allegations
Fincantieri Marine Group announced on Thursday that it has suspended the general manager of its Bay Shipbuilding shipyard in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. over recent criminal fraud charges.The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently charged Craig Perciavalle and two other former Austal USA employees for "allegedly making or causing to be made false and misleading statements about Austal USA's performance and financial condition between 2012 and 2016"…
Ammonia Bunkering Study Kicks Off in Savannah
An international group of maritime industry partners are conducting a feasibility study with the aim to establish a commercially viable green ammonia ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering network on the U.S. East Coast.The study, to be carried out at the Port of Savannah in Georgia, will cover the entire end-to-end supply chain of ammonia bunkering, which includes the development of a cost-effective green ammonia supply chain…
Interview: Jennifer Carpenter, AWO
Jennifer Carpenter has been president and CEO of The American Waterways Operators (AWO) in January 2020, but her time with the national trade association representing the inland and coastal tugboat, towboat and barge industry dates back to 1990. This month, she weighs in on top challenges and opportunities currently present in the industry, from difficult regulatory changes to the uptake of cleaner vessel technologies.What are some of the biggest and most important issues facing the tug…
DSC Dredge Promotes Laiche to VP of Engineering
Reserve, La. based dredging equipment company DSC Dredge announced it has promoted Scott Laiche to the position of Vice President of Engineering.Laiche first joined DSC’s Engineering department as a Mechanical Engineer, quickly moving up the ladder to Engineering Manager in 2016 and in 2021 he was promoted to Director of Engineering.In his new role, Laiche will continue to lead and work alongside his…
Hybrid Well Boat Joins Bakkafrost's Faroe Islands Fleet
One of the global aquaculture industry's largest well boats has recently joined Bakkafrost's Faroe Islands fleet.The 109-meter Bakkafossur was built at the Sefine Shipyard in Turkey, and it was completed and delivered to Bakkafrost in December 2022.The highly technological vessel can carry up to 1,000 tonnes of live salmon and is regarded as a huge upgrade to secure sustainable operations in the future.
Schottel's Largest EcoPeller Shipped
Propulsion systems manufacturer Schottel said Thursday that the largest Schottel EcoPeller ever manufactured was recently shipped from the Wismar production facility in Germany. The five-bladed SRE 700 features a propeller diameter of 3,600 mm and an input power of 3.2 MW. "Thanks to its compact design, the integrated LE-Drive (“embedded L-Drive”) allows more freedom in vessel design," Schottel said."In addition to this, it offers extremely low vibration and noise levels.
Western Restrictions on Russian Oil Reshuffle Global Shipping Patterns
Global fuel suppliers are turning to longer and costlier routes that produce more carbon emissions to move their diesel and other products as Western restrictions on Russian cargoes have reshuffled global energy shipping patterns.As a result of the European Union ban on Russian fuel that started on Feb. 5, tankers carrying clean oil products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and naphtha are traveling between 16 and 18 days to bring Russian supplies to Brazil or U.S.
Nord Stream Pipeline Blasts Probe Continues, but Culprits Difficult to Determine
It will likely be difficult to determine who blew up the Nord Stream pipelines connecting Russia and Germany in the Baltic Sea last year, Sweden's prosecution authority, which is investigating the incident, said on Thursday. The Sept. 26 explosions at the pipelines connecting Russia and Germany occurred in the economic zones of Sweden and Denmark. The blast in the Swedish zone happened at a depth of 80 meters and the prosecutor said investigating it was complicated.
