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Russian Attacks on Ukraine Grain Network a Move to Cut Competition - German Minister
Russian attacks on Ukraine's grain infrastructure look like attempts to reduce the competition in Russia's export markets, German Agriculture Minister Cem Oezdemir was reported as saying on Monday.Ukraine could lose tens of millions of tonnes of grain due to Russia's blockade of its Black Sea ports, triggering a food crisis that will hit Europe, Asia, and Africa, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday.“We are repeatedly receiving reports about targeted Russian attacks on grain silos…
Perenco Shuts Gabon Oil Terminal after 300,000-barrel Leak
Anglo-French oil company Perenco has shut its Cap Lopez oil terminal near Port Gentil in Gabon after a storage tank leaked more than 300,000 barrels of oil, it said in a statement.The oil, which amounts to more than Gabon's daily crude output, leaked into retention tanks on Thursday and did not spill into the surrounding area, the company said.The cause of the spill was not yet clear and Perenco has opened an investigation.
Ukraine Formally Closes Four Ports Captured by Russian Forces
Ukraine has formally closed its four Black and Azov sea ports, which Russian forces have captured, the Ukrainian agriculture ministry said on Monday.The Azov Sea ports of Mariupol, Berdiansk, and Skadovsk and the Black Sea port of Kherson were closed "until the restoration of control", the ministry said in a statement."The adoption of this measure is caused by the impossibility of servicing ships and passengers…
Paramount Launches New Gulf Of Guinea Patrol Vessel
A new high-speed, multipurpose naval vessel Tuguemi has been christened in Hamlet Quay in Elliot Basin, Cape Town, South Africa, builder Paramount Maritime announced. The 35m Sentinel vessel is optimized for coastal patrols and cargo transfer duties, among a myriad of other mission assignments that the multipurpose vessel can perform. It will be deployed in the greater Gulf of Guinea region, a recognized hotspot in 2022 for oil and gas piracy…
Adani Ports Acquires Marine Services Firm Ocean Sparkle
Adani Ports, the largest private ports and logistics company in India, said it has reached a deal to acquire a 100% stake in India’s largest third-party marine services provider Ocean Sparkle Ltd. (OSL).OSL, which provides towage, pilotage, and dredging services, has an asset base of 94 owned vessels and 13 third-party owned vessels, and a team of 1,800 personnel. It is present in all the major ports…
Siem Offshore Nets New Deal for Siem Spearfish OSCV
Norwegian offshore vessel owner Siem Offshore has secured a new contract for the offshore subsea construction vessel Siem Spearfish with DeepOcean. The contract for the 2014-built vessel will start in direct continuation of its current commitment, securing a firm utilization until the end of 2023. "The contract shows an increased appetite in the market to secure OSCV’s for longer periods," Siem Offshore…
USCG Commissions Sentinel-class Cutter Clarence Sutphin Jr.
The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned its 47th Sentinel-class cutter, USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr. (WPC 1147), into service on ThursdayBuilt by Bollinger Shipyards and officially delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard on January 6 in Key West, Fla., Clarence Sutphin Jr. is Patrol Forces Southwest Asia's (PATFORSWA) sixth 154-foot Sentinel-class cutter.Vice Adm. Steven Poulin, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area commander…
Durban Port Functional After Flood Devastation
South Africa's major port of Durban, where operations were disrupted by severe flooding last week, is now functional and a backlog of thousands of containers will be cleared within five to six days, the public enterprises minister said on Tuesday.The floods caused extensive damage to roads leading to Durban port, one of the busiest shipping terminals in Africa and a key hub for exports like metals…
KOTUG to Buy Seaways International
Dutch marine services and towage company KOTUG has agreed to buy offshore support vessel firm Seaways International, in what is the largest acquisition in KOTUG's history.KOTUG said the move, of an undisclosed value, was part of its strategy to expand its business in assisting worldwide floating facilities such as FSO, FPSO, FLNG, FSRU, and SPM Terminals. "In addition, it will further consolidate the…
Ukraine Says Grain on Ships in Blocked Black Sea Ports May Deteriorate
Around 1.25 million tonnes of grains and oilseeds are still on commercial vessels blocked in Ukrainian seaports due to Russia's invasion and part of the cargo may deteriorate in the near future, Ukraine's farm minister was quoted as saying on Friday.Ukraine used to export almost all its grain and oilseeds via seaports and now is forced to find new routes as its ports are blocked.Before the war, Ukraine exported up to 6 million tonnes of grain and oilseed a month…
Transnet Suspends Durban Port Operations Due to Floods
South Africa's state-owned logistics firm Transnet suspended its Durban port operations from 1930 local time on Monday due to heavy rains that have damaged the roads into the port, a key hub for shipping containers and metals such as copper.In a statement on Tuesday, Transnet said shipping has been suspended until further notice as a result of damage caused by the adverse weather, and vessels on berth are on standby.Customers were requested to "hold back" on bringing their trucks into the port…
Interview: Shane Guidry, Harvey Gulf
Shane Guidry transformed Harvey Gulf from an inland and offshore towing vessel operator to a provider of offshore vessel services in the Gulf of Mexico and international oil and gas markets. Innovation initiatives he has spearheaded include, among others, leading the company to become the United States’ first owner and operator of liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered offshore support vessels, as well positioning the firm as the first LNG bunkering facility operator in the U.S.
The Ship that Found Antarctica’s Endurance Wreck is Vital for Climate Science
It was 1914 when the English explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton set sail on his Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition aboard a ship called Endurance. It was an ill-fated journey: the ship got trapped in the ice and eventually crushed by pack ice in 1915. It sank to the bottom of Antarctica’s Weddell Sea. (Shackleton and his entire crew survived the ordeal by escaping in smaller boats.)It was difficult to believe that the Endurance might ever be found.
Adm. Fagan Nominated as First Female USCG Commandant
President Joe Biden nominated Adm. Linda L. Fagan to serve as the 27th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. Upon confirmation, Adm. Fagan will be the first woman to serve as Commandant of the Coast Guard.Adm. Fagan currently serves as the 32nd Vice Commandant, having assumed the duties on June 18, 2021. The Vice Commandant is the Vice Service Chief and Chief Operating Officer, responsible for executing the Commandant’s Strategic Intent…
Marlink, Intelsat Increase Bandwidth Capacity for Cruise and Merchant Shipping Sectors
Smart network company Marlink has extended its partnership with Intelsat to offer increased Ku and C-band satellite connectivity to maritime customers in cruise and merchant shipping sectors.The agreement will see Intelsat assign capacity to the Marlink network providing a unique level of coverage in waters as far south as Antarctica as well as ocean regions around Africa and the Middle East. Marlink will derive the additional capacity from multiple assets…
Bureau Veritas Expands Remote Inspection Capabilities
Classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) said it can now provide owners and operators with new ways to survey their ships through Remote Inspection Techniques operated by BV’s own surveyors in France. The company said it aims to leverage digital technologies to deliver its inspection services more safely and efficiently.BV’s key objective with the use of RIT is to limit the use of costly and dangerous means of access…
Germany's TES Accelerates Plan for Gas Import Terminal
Germany's Tree Energy Solutions (TES), backed by Belgian firm AtlasInvest, said on Wednesday it would accelerate plans for a gas import terminal to be built at the northern German port of Wilhelmshaven in partnership with E.ON.It said it was bringing the project forward by about two years because of an energy crisis, which has been fueled by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.The terminal, to be built by 2025…
Med Marine Delivers New Tug to Kenya Port Authority
Kenya Port Authority's new tug, Mwokozi II, was delivered to her home port of Mombasa on January 10, 2022.The Mwokozi II is a custom design 42-meter, 120 tonne bollard pull RAstar 4200 salvage and harbor tug developed by Robert Allan Ltd., with particularly outstanding performance in maneuvering, seakeeping, and stability.The Turkish shipbuilder Med Marine was contracted to build the new tugboat at its group owned Eregli Shipyard.
Consolidation is King – Tidewater and Swire Pacific Offshore
Tongues are wagging in the offshore sector, as one of the longest-running rumors in the market has finally come true. U.S. offshore vessel owner Tidewater Marine has acquired Singapore's Swire Pacific Offshore for USD 190 million, the company’s biggest powerplay since its acquisition of GulfMark Offshore back in 2018.But why SPO, and why now? In this article, VesselsValue's Head of Offshore, Rob Day…
Future Fuels: TotalEnergies Makes Historic First Marine Bio-Fuel Bunker Delivery
TotalEnergies Marine Fuels carried out its first marine bio-VLSFO (Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil) bunker delivery in Singapore’s port waters, as part of a biofuel trial recently completed by NYK Line and Anglo American.During the operation, a B10 biofuel blend that composed of VLSFO blended with 10% second-generation, waste-based and ISCC-certified UCOME (Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester) was supplied via ship-to-ship transfer to MT Friendship, a bulk carrier owned by Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp.
Maritime Piracy
Houthi Rockets Wreak Havoc on Middle East Container Shipping
Narco-Submarines: The Hidden Depths of Drug Trafficking
Drug Smuggling on Ships and Submarines: An Escalating Threat
Maersk revises profit forecast upwards due to robust demand and disruptions in the Red Sea.
Global Shipping Carriers Are Feeling the Impact of the War in Ukraine and the Middle East
Maritime Piracy in the Horn of Africa:
Houthis Declare All-Out War on Israeli Shipping, Vowing to Strike Beyond Red Sea
Injustice at Sea: Greek Court Drops Charges in Deadly Migrant Shipwreck
