Oil Falls on Demand Worries, Market Awaits Fed Advice
Oil prices eased about 1% to a one-week low on Tuesday on demand worries following the release of negative economic news from Germany and China, while investors remained cautious ahead of a U.S. Federal Reserve decision on interest rates.Brent futures fell 90 cents, or 1.2%, to $73.01 a barrel by 1:36 p.m. EST (1836 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude slipped 86 cents, or 1.2%, to $69.85. That puts both crude benchmarks on track for their lowest closes since Dec. 10 and cut the premium of Brent over WTI to a 12-week low of $3.56 a barrel…
Third Russian Tanker Issues Distress Signal as Oil Washes Up on Black Sea Coast
Spilled oil has washed up along "tens of kilometres" of the Russian Black Sea coast after two tankers were badly damaged in a storm at the weekend, a regional official said on Tuesday, and state media said a third vessel was now in trouble.TASS news agency said the third ship, also a tanker, had issued a distress signal off the port of Kavkaz, but its hull was still intact, there was no oil spillage and the crew was safe.The first ship, the Volgoneft 212, split in half on Sunday in the Kerch Strait, between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
US Hits North Korea and Russia with More Sanctions
The United States hit North Korea and Russia on Monday with new sanctions that the Treasury Department said targeted Pyongyang's financial activities and military support to Moscow.The sanctions, which list North Korean banks, generals and other officials as well as Russian oil shipping companies, are the latest U.S. measure aimed at disrupting North Korea's support to Russia's war in Ukraine.The North Korean banks targeted include Golden Triangle Bank and Korea Mandal Credit Bank…
Two Russian Tankers Flounder in Storm
A Russian oil tanker carrying thousands of tonnes of oil products split apart during a heavy storm on Sunday, spilling oil into the Kerch Strait, while another tanker was also in distress after sustaining damage, Russian officials said.The vessels were in the Kerch Strait between mainland Russia and Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, when they issued distress signals.Russian investigators opened two criminal cases to look into possible safety violations after at least one person was killed when the 136-metre Volgoneft 212 tanker…
CMB.TECH Sells Three Suezmax Tankers
Belgian oil tanker company CMB.TECH has soled three Suezmax vessels to Bocimar International, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMB.The Suezmax vessels include Selena (2007, 150,205 dwt) Cap Victor (2007, 158,853 dwt) and Cap Felix (2008, 158,765 dwt).The sale will generate a capital gain of $70.9 million, and the vessels will be delivered to their new owner in December 2024, CMB.TECH said.“The transaction enables the company to manage its portfolio of ships in line with its strategy of decarbonizing and optimizing its fleet.
US Diesel Exports to ARA Set to Rise
Diesel shipments from the U.S. Gulf Coast to Europe's main trading and refining hub, the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region, are set to rise owing to improving export margins on the back of scarce supply in Europe and rising U.S. refinery production, according to traders and ship tracking data.Europe is seeking higher transatlantic diesel imports, as weaker export margins for shipments from east of Suez slowed flows on that route in the last two months. Rising European gasoil…
EIA: US Crude, Gasoline Inventories Rise
U.S. crude oil and gasoline inventories last week rose more than forecast, while distillate stockpiles posted a larger-than-expected draw, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.Crude inventories rose by 545,000 barrels to 430.3 million barrels in the week ended Nov. 15, the EIA said, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 138,000-barrel rise.Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub fell by 140,000 barrels in the week, the EIA said. Net U.S.
US Arrests Turk for Alleged Sanctions Violations
U.S. authorities have arrested a Turkish man who they allege was trying to violate sanctions by transporting oil from Venezuela, the Justice Department said on Monday.The U.S. reimposed sanctions on the Venezuelan oil company PDVSA in June after what it said was the failure of President Nicolas Maduro to return to talks with the political opposition and commit to fair elections.In a statement, the Justice Department said 37-year-old Taskin Torlak had "allegedly conspired to illegally sell Venezuelan oil…
Watch: Rescue Services Extinguish Tanker Fire
The 73-meter-long German oil and chemical tanker Annika caught fire on October 11 whilst northeast of Kühlungsborn, Germany, in the Baltic Sea. The Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) Bremen, operated by the German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked People (DGzRS), led the response.The sea rescue boat Wilma Sikorski rescued all seven crew members shortly after the fire was reported, and Reuters reports that the fire was extinguished and the vessel is now safely into the port of Rostock.The vessel was carrying around 640 tonnes of oil…
Dark Tanker Fleet Activity Morphs
A new analysis from Windward reports a 20% decrease in the volume of direct oil voyages out of Russia in Q3 2024 compared to Q2.Q3 2024 marked the lowest monthly average of direct voyages from Russia to China since March 2023. When compared to Q2 2024 averages, there is a decrease of 12% in such voyages.This is the first total volume decrease since the beginning of the war between Russia and Ukraine and is likely related to the slight decrease in port calls in Russia this quarter.However…
Emergency Planning Boosted After Tanker Breakaway and Grounding
The breakaway and grounding of an oil tanker in the Brisbane River, Australia, in February 2022 illustrates the importance of clearly defined emergency and risk management arrangements, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation report.On February 27, 2022, during a period of heavy, sustained rainfall and flooding in south-east Queensland, the 185-meter Hong Kong-flagged oil products tanker CSC Friendship was berthed at the Ampol products wharf in the Port of Brisbane…
Sounion Still on Fire After Houthi Attack
The Greek-flagged ship Sounion has been on fire since Aug. 23 after an attack by Yemen's Houthis with no obvious signs of an oil spill, EU Red Sea naval mission Aspides said in a post on X on Monday.The EU mission published photos dated Sunday showing fire and smoke coming out of the vessel's main deck.Houthis, who control Yemen's most populous regions, said on Thursday that they attacked the Sounion oil tanker in the Red Sea. The Iran-aligned group has been attacking ships in…
Energy Workforce & Technology Council Supports New Energy Act
The Energy Workforce & Technology Council has signaled its support for the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, introduced by Senate Energy & Natural Resources Chairman Joe Manchin (I-WV) and Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-WY).The two lawmakers on the Senate energy committee introduced the legislation on Monday. It is designed to speed permitting of power transmission, mining and liquefied natural gas export projects."I am encouraged by the bipartisan permitting reform package introduced by Senator Manchin and Senator Barrasso.
Malaysia Coast Guard Locates Tanker Involved in Collision
A tanker that was involved in a collision near Singapore last week entered the area of Malaysia's Bertam floating oil terminal on Monday morning after it was intercepted by local authorities on Sunday, shipping data from LSEG and Kpler showed.The Sao Tome and Principe-flagged supertanker Ceres I left the scene of a fiery collision with another tanker, the Singapore-flagged Hafnia Nile, on Friday.The Ceres I was found in Malaysian waters with two tugboats towing it, the coast guard…
UK Adds 11 Designations to Russia Sanctions List
Britain added 11 new shipping sanctions under its Russia sanctions regime related to the war in Ukraine, an official notice showed on Thursday.The government said the sanctions on ships including Zaliv Amurskiy and SCF Pechora relate to the carrying of oil or oil products from Russia to a third country.The ships are believed to have the flags of Panama, Gabon and the Cook Islands, the government notice said.Last month, Britain imposed its first sanctions targeting vessels in Russian…
Greek Navy Extends Advisory to Curb Russian Oil Ship-to-Ship Transfers, Sources Say
The Greek navy this week extended an advisory effectively banning ship traffic off the coast of the southeastern Peloponnese and further, in a bid to deter ship-to-ship transfers of Russian oil off Greece, three sources said.Greece, over the past months, has been issuing and extending such advisories for military exercises off the Laconian Gulf and even further, off the island of Kithira, urging merchant and other vessels to avoid the area.The latest advisory was extended until Sept.
Crew of Capsized Oil Tanker Off Oman Still Missing
The 16-strong crew of a Comoros-flagged oil tanker that capsized off Oman are still missing, the country's maritime security center said on Tuesday, a day after the sinking was reported.The crew of "Prestige Falcon" comprised 13 Indian nationals and three Sri Lankans, the Omani center said in a post on the social media platform X.Separately, the center told Reuters that the vessel remains "submerged, inverted". It did not confirm whether the vessel had stabilised or whether oil…
Oil Tanker Capsized Off Oman
A Comorian-flagged oil tanker was capsized 25 nautical miles southeast of Oman's Ras Madrakah in Duqm port town, Omani state news agency ONA reported on Monday, citing Oman's Maritime Security Centre.(Reuters - Reporting by Jaidaa Taha and Muhammad Al Gebaly; Editing by Chris Reese)
Report: Preparing Tankers for Conversion to Green Fuels
The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping has published a technical, environmental, and techno-economic analysis of the impacts of preparation and conversion of tankers for green fuels.Using insights from project partners, the project aimed to understand the technical requirements and cost of converting from fuel oil to methanol or ammonia and from NG to ammonia.The report considered reference designs for two types of tanker vessels: LR2 and VLCC. These vessel types are two of the largest in the tanker segment…
ClassNK Greenlights Hydrogen-Fueled Engine Compatible Oil Tanker
ClassNK has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for a design concept of the hydrogen-fueled engine compatible oil tanker with electric propulsion system.The 5,000KL oil tanker design has been developed by Uyeno Transtech, Yanmar Power Technology, and Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding.This is the world’s first AiP certification for the design of an oil tanker using liquefied hydrogen as a fuel.The ship was designed as part of the ‘Development of Large-scale Hydrogen-fueled Domestic Tanker…
BIMCO: Trade Restrictions Continue to Drive Tanker Demand Higher
Crude tanker demand is forecast to outpace supply in 2024 but grow slower than supply in 2025 as ships may return to the Suez Canal and sailing distances shorten, according to BIMCO’s May issue of its Tanker Shipping Market Overview & Outlook.Driven by increasing sailing distances, product tanker demand is also expected to grow faster than supply in 2024 but slower in 2025. A tightening supply/demand balance should result in increases in rates and prices in both markets in 2024…
Gall Thomson Confirms Known 2023 Marine Breakaway Couplings Activations
Gall Thomson has revealed there were 16 known activations of its Marine Breakaway Couplings during 2023. The activations occurred in nine different countries around the world.On each occasion, the Marine Breakaway Coupling (MBC) operated exactly as expected. Oil spills, injuries and damage to assets such as vessels, hoses or facilities was avoided. There were no known spurious activations reported.Gall Thomson MBCs are designed to activate in an emergency during offshore hose…
WinGD to Supply Engines for AET’s Ammonia-Fueled Aframax Tankers
Swiss marine power company WinGD has secured an order for its X‑DF‑A ammonia-fueled engines for what will be the world’s first ammonia dual-fuel Aframax tankers.Two vessels ordered by Singapore based ship owner and operator AET, a petroleum arm of Malaysia’s MISC Group, will be built at Dalian Shipbuilding Industry with six-cylinder X62DF-A engines, the newest addition to WinGD’s clean-fuel engine portfolio.AET recently entered into time charter party (TCP) contract with Petronas'…