Collision Between Containership and Fishing Vessel Caused by Failure to Keep Watch
A fishing vessel mate not maintaining a proper lookout and conducting maintenance on critical equipment while underway led to the collision of a containership and fishing vessel, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Wednesday. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vessels was estimated at $6.25 million.On October 28, 2022, while the containership MSC Rita was transiting southbound in the Atlantic Ocean…
Argentina’s Grain Exports Could Jump 40%
“Argentina is on track to boost grain exports by 40% in 2024, recovering from last year’s drought which afflicted crops, but still below the 2019-2022 average. Climate patterns and government policy are shaping the outlook,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.El Niño has brought improved weather conditions for Argentina’s grain crops. The wheat harvest is nearly complete and estimated to be 20% larger than a year ago.
Seatrium Responds to Empire Wind 2 Project Cancellation
Seatrium has issued an announcement confirming its contract for a 1,260MW offshore substation (OSS) platform for Empire Wind 2, valued at more than S$250 million, has been cancelled.Seatrium was awarded two contracts from Empire Offshore Wind LLC for the engineering, procurement, construction, offshore hook-up and commissioning of two OSS platforms for the Empire Wind 1 and 2. The offshore wind farms…
Top Industry Organizations Thank 12 Nations
The World Shipping Council, International Chamber of Shipping and BIMCO have expressed their thanks to the 12 nations that have jointly condemned the ongoing illegal attacks on ships in the Red Sea and unlawful detention of vessels and crews there.“As the governments of the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom have all stated…
Dominguez Raises Concern for Seafarers at UN Security Council
Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the IMO, addressed the United Nations Security Council at its 9,525th meeting reiterating his condemnation of the attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea.“Attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea area are not acceptable,” he said. “Ships must be allowed to trade worldwide unhindered and in accordance with international law.”Since the beginning of November…
Vineyard Wind Supplies First Power to Grid
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Avangrid said on Wednesday their joint venture Vineyard Wind began generating power for the first time, supplying five megawatts (MW) to the New England grid.The project is expected to have five turbines operating at full capacity in early 2024, the companies said.The announcement comes after offshore wind projects in the United States faced financial troubles in recent months on account of soaring inflation, interest rate hikes and increased project costs
Ocean Cargo Rates Climb After New Red Sea Ship Attacks
Ocean freight rates are surging after a missile attack and attempted hijacking of a Maersk ship this weekend prompted carriers to suspend plans to restart transits through the Red Sea, a key artery to the vital Suez Canal trade route.Yemen-based Houthi militants have been attacking high-value cargo vessels in the Red Sea since November in a show of support for Palestinian Islamist group Hamas fighting Israel in Gaza.
US, Partners Reiterate Call for End to Houthi Attacks in Red Sea
The United States and eleven other countries issues a joint statement on Wednesday reiterating a call for an end to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, according to the White House."Let our message now be clear: we call for the immediate end of these illegal attacks and release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews," said the statement, issued by the U.S.
Jonathan Daniels to Lead Port of Baltimore
Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld has announced Jonathan Daniels as the new executive director of the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Maryland Port Administration. Daniels comes to Maryland after serving as chief executive officer and director at Port Everglades in Broward County, Fla., and has more than 30 years of port and economic development experience.Daniels will begin in his new position February 5…
Equinor, BP Cancel Contract to Sell Offshore Wind Power to New York
European energy firms Equinor and BP terminated their agreement to sell power to New York state from their proposed Empire Wind 2 offshore wind farm, citing rising inflation, higher borrowing costs, and supply chain issues."This agreement reflects changed economic circumstances on an industry-wide scale and repositions an already mature project to continue development in anticipation of new offtake opportunities…
Eastern Awarded Contract to Complete MPSV Builds for Hornbeck
Panama City Fla. based Eastern Shipbuilding Group announced it has been awarded a contract to complete construction of two ultra high-spec 400 class multipurpose support vessels (MPSVs) for Hornbeck Offshore Services (HOS).The newbuilds were originally started by Gulf Island Shipyards in Houma, La. before Hornbeck terminated the contracts in 2018 over what it described as "performance issues". Gulf Island then sued Hornbeck…
Chinese Shipyard Launches Cadeler’s Newbuild Offshore Wind Vessel
Cosco Shipyard in China has launched Cadeler’s newbuild vessel Wind Peak, designed to be able to transport and install up to seven complete 15 MW offshore wind turbine sets per load.The launching of Wind Peak is a critical milestone that marks the completion of the vessel’s hull, Cadeler said.Leading up to the launch is two years of intricate engineering and 18 months of construction of the P-class vessel.After the launching…
Germany Calls Red Sea Attacks Unacceptable, Assessing Mission Options
Attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea are unacceptable and must stop, a spokesperson for the German foreign ministry said on Wednesday, adding that Berlin was in contact with Brussels on a possible European Union maritime mission in the region."These attacks are fully unacceptable and must stop," the spokesperson told a government press conference in Berlin.We are examining all options that are possible under international and constitutional law, he added when asked about how Berlin would res
Houthis Say They 'Targeted' Containership, No Damage Reported
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis said on Wednesday they had "targeted" a container ship bound for Israel, a day after the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the militant group had fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles in the southern Red Sea.The Houthis, who control much of Yemen including the capital, have since October attacked in the Red Sea commercial vessels they say have Israeli links or are sailing to Israel…
Baltic Dry Index Edges Down as Demand for Smaller Vessels Slips
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index eased on Wednesday, as falling rates for panamax and supramax vessels overshadowed gains in the capesize segment.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, was down 2 points, or 0.1%, at 2,091.The capesize index was up 85 points, or 2.4%, at 3,569, its highest in more than two weeks.Average daily earnings for capesize vessels…
Ivø Appointed Deputy Secretary General at BIMCO
BIMCO’s Director of Contracts & Support, Stinne Taiger Ivø, has been appointed Deputy Secretary General at BIMCO from January 1, 2024.Ivø joined BIMCO in early 2022 to lead the Contracts & Support department. Prior to working at BIMCO, Ivø headed the claims department of marine insurer Skuld (Copenhagen), worked at Danish Shipping (formerly known as the Danish Shipowners’ Association) and as a lawyer at Gorrissen Federspiel’s department for Shipping/Offshore/Transportation.
China Unveils New Images of its Aircraft Carrier Newbuilding
Chinese state media unveiled new images of China's most advanced aircraft carrier yet, including next generation launch tracks that can catapult a wider range of aircraft from its deck.First shown to the public in June 2022, the Fujian was entirely designed and built domestically.Yet to conduct its first sea trials, the aircraft carrier is larger and technologically more advanced than the Shandong…
Bulk Carrier Management JV Established in Singapore
Taiwan-based dry bulk shipowner Wisdom Marine Group and Singapore-based ship management company Synergy Group have announced a new joint venture (JV).Wisdom Synergy Ship Management (WSSM) will be headquartered in Singapore with key operational centres in Taiwan and India and will provide technical management for Wisdom’s diverse fleet.Last year, Wisdom chose Synergy Group to provide management services…
AMSA Warns of Counterfeit Pilot Ladders
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has issued as Pilot Advisory Note advising coastal pilots and pilotage providers about the existence of counterfeit pilot ladders and associated certification.In March 2019, one of AMSA’s Port Marine Surveyors identified a pilot ladder onboard a vessel which appeared to be non-compliant with the pilot transfer requirements. The associated inspection certificate presented at the time of the AMSA inspection…
Malta-Flagged Container Ship Reports Explosions Nearby
British maritime security firm Ambrey said on Tuesday that a Malta-flagged container ship reported seeing three explosions towards its port quarter, 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Yemen's Mocha.The vessel master was heard over VHF, calling a coalition warship, the firm added.Ambrey said it understood that three missiles had been fired from the direction of Yemen's Taiz Governorate.A nearby vessel reported seeing a small boat…
