Amazon River Port Water Levels Drop to 121-year Record Low
The water level at a major river port in Brazil's Amazon rainforest hit its lowest point in at least 121 years on Monday, as a historic drought upends the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and damages the jungle ecosystem.Rapidly drying tributaries to the mighty Amazon river have left boats stranded, cutting off food and water supplies to remote jungle villages, while high water temperatures are suspected of killing more than 100 endangered river dolphins.The port in Manaus…
Wasaline RoPax to Burn Biogas Fuel on Fridays
Finnish shipping company Wasaline announced it has started operating with certified biogas one day a week from October 13, in preparation for the EU emissions trading system that will come into force next year.The company, which operates the route connecting Vaasa, Finland and Umeå, Sweden, said it will use certified biogas aboard its ro-pax vessel Aurora Botnia for all Friday departures through December…
Columbia Group Launches Female Cadet Mentoring Program
Aiming to attract more women into the maritime sector, ship management and maritime services company Columbia Group has launched a mentoring program aimed at female cadets.“We need to change the culture in the industry surrounding women and make it more viable for them to have a career in maritime, so that we can attract and widen the pool of talent that we draw from,” said program leader Claudia Paschkewitz…
US Issues Draft RFP for New Antarctic Research Vessel
The U.S.' National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a draft request for proposal (RFP) for its Antarctic Research Vessel (ARV) Integrator requirement.According to NSF, the draft represents a functionally complete RFP with sections A through M, released to provide transparency and early exposure for what is a robust requirement.NSF said it seeks feedback from industry on the whole of the RFP, be that technical or contractual requirements…
Insights: Blaine Dempke, CEO, Markey
Established in 1907 as the Industrial Revolution arrived to Seattle, Markey is the oldest privately-held winch manufacturer in the United States today. The company was formed in the Georgetown District of what later became known as King County, Wash. The Markey sign above its original manufacturing plant, on Horton Street, is still retained, although Markey has since moved to its current facility on 8th Avenue South.Markey was a major supplier to the U.S.
Massachusetts Offshore Wind Farm Dodges Lawsuits over Environmental, Fishing Concerns
A U.S. judge has rejected challenges to federal environmental permits and construction approvals for a $4 billion offshore wind farm near Massachusetts, which commercial fishing groups have claimed will harm whales and impair their businesses.U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston last Thursday tossed the final two federal district court lawsuits directly challenging the Vineyard Wind project roughly 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard…
Tanker Hits Mine in Black Sea
A Liberian-flagged oil products tanker hit a mine on Sunday in the Black Sea off the coast of Romania and sustained minor damage, but the crew was safe, sources…
Exmar Orders Ammonia-Powered Midsize Gas Carriers
Exmar LPG has ordered two ammonia-powered Midsize Gas Carriers (MGCs) from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea.According to the company, a joint venture between EXMAR and Seapeak, the ships will be the first-ever oceangoing vessels to be propelled by dual-fuel ammonia engines, allowing for close to zero emissions trading when using ammonia. The engines will be delivered by Swiss marine power company WINGD…
Fearing China, South Korea Targets Contractors on Taiwan Navy Submarines
South Korean authorities cited the risk of Chinese economic retaliation when they charged marine technology firm SI Innotec last year with violating trade laws for its work on Taiwan's new military submarine program, according to a police document seen by Reuters and two people familiar with the matter.In a Feb. 17, 2022, affidavit to a judge seeking the arrest of SI Innotec executive director Park Mal-sik…
Gard: Increase in Stern Tube Damage Concerning
The number of stern tube-related damage claims has increased considerably over the last few years, and this is causing marine insurer Gard some concern.In the past, damage to a stern tube was often considered a relatively straightforward casualty by surveyors. The cause was often obvious – contact with a floating object such as ice, fishing nets or ropes, for example.These causes still exist, but the significant increase in frequency over the past years…
BIMCO Adopts New CII Clause
BIMCO has developed a new Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) Clause for Voyage Charter Parties. The clause was adopted by BIMCO’s Documentary Committee on October 11 and is the latest addition to BIMCO’s portfolio of carbon clauses.“As the shipping industry works towards decarbonization, the need for new contracts and clauses increases. We are working constantly to ensure that BIMCO’s contracts and clauses are fit for purpose as the regulatory landscape changes…
GMS: Pakistan and Bangladesh Lagging Behind Alang
As deals continue to be concluded into Alang, the Indian ship recycling sector remains on a positive footing overall, with Pakistan and (especially) Bangladesh still lagging behind, reports cash buyer GMS.Despite steel plate prices coming off by about US$ 11/Ton and the Indian Rupee weakening marginally over the course of the week, the overall outlook for India remains positive.Several ship recyclers…
Russia Has Hit Six Ships Since Deal Failed - Kyiv
Russia has hit six civilian ships, 150 port and grain facilities and destroyed over 300,000 tonnes of grain since Moscow quit a deal allowing safe Black Sea exports of Ukrainian grain, the Kyiv government said on Friday.In a statement, it said 21 vessels had been already loaded with grain for exports and used a new "humanitarian" grain corridor in the Black Sea announced by Kyiv in August.
Hapag-Lloyd Expects Three Tough Years for Shipping Industry
The head of German shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd, Rolf Habben Jansen, expects the next three years to be difficult because demand for shipping services is growing more slowly than available shipping capacity, he told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper.Despite that, he thought the downturn in the sector would be less severe than in the period following the global financial crisis in 2008 when new capacity due to launch amounted to 55% of the existing fleet.
Backlog at Israeli Ports Grows
The backlog of ships is growing at Israeli ports while operations continue at most terminals amid preparations by the military to launch a ground assault in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, according to data and sources.Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas in retaliation for a rampage in which its fighters stormed through Israeli towns a week ago, shooting civilians and seizing scores of hostages in…
ClassNK Contributes to Social Implementation of MASS
ClassNK is taking a leading role in the implementation of safe and efficient maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS) through a program of research, rule-development, technology trials and certification.While the regulatory framework covering MASS remains a work in progress, it is clear that autonomous ship technologies are already having a transformative effect on shipping.By autonomously executing…
Tanker Spills and Preserving OPA 90 Experience
The maritime industry has seen a very long sequence of environmental regulations since the first implementation of MARPOL in the early 1970’s. All of these regulations have very much benefitted the ocean environment and also our industry to some degree. One of those regulations, OPA90, has had an outsized effect to an extent that it may no longer be as effective as it was in recent years due to its…
$754M Ship Repair Contract Awarded
General Dynamics NASSCO, a subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) won a contract by the U.S. Navy for the maintenance, modernization and repair of USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) and USS James E. Williams (DDG 95). The contract for an initial $15.6 million includes options that, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $753.8 million.Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and San Diego, California. If all options are exercised, work will continue through November 2030.
Growing Tanker Fleet, Cheaper Freight Challenge Russian Oil Price Cap
Russian crude oil producers are enjoying the cheapest costs to ship to refiners in China and India in almost a year thanks to a growing number of vessels plying the routes…
SBM Offshore Secures Fifth FPSO Contract in Guyana
Dutch firm SBM Offshore said Friday it had won contracts to perform front-end engineering and design (FEED) for a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel (FPSO) for the ExxonMobil-led Whiptail development project in Guyana.Following FEED and subject to government approvals in Guyana of the development plan, and project sanction, including the final investment decision by ExxonMobil, to release the second phase of work, SBM Offshore will construct and install the FPSO.
