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Who Owned the Chemicals that Blew up Beirut? No One Will Say
In the murky story of how a cache of highly explosive ammonium nitrate ended up on the Beirut waterfront, one thing is clear—no one has ever publicly come forward…
PDVSA Changes Oil Deals to Include Shipping as Sanctions Bite
Venezuelan state-run oil firm PDVSA has begun offering to ship its own oil, figuring in the costs in crude supply deals to help customers who have struggled to hire…
Nigeria: FPSO Workers Released after Kidnapping
Offshore workers kidnapped from an FPSO offshore Nigeria in an armed pirate attack in July, have been released, the owner of the floating production unit said Friday.In…
The Beirut Explosion Was Exceptional but Events Leading up to It Were Not
At the time of writing at least 100 people have lost their lives and a further 4,000 have been wounded following an explosion in the Port of Beirut. While the actual cause remains uncertain, the tragedy calls to attention the tremendous consequences of a lack of port security.The explosion, on August 4, at around 6 p.m. local time, appears to have been fueled by 2,750 tons of the highly reactive chemical ammonium nitrate.
Beirut's Accidental Cargo: How an Unscheduled Port Visit Led to Disaster
The chemicals that went up in flames in Beirut's deadliest peace-time explosion arrived in the Lebanese capital seven years ago on a leaky Russian-leased cargo ship that…
Maritime Security: Failing to Prepare is Preparing to Fail
North America is historically one of the world’s safest regions for maritime transit and operations. Our data shows that of the 2,915 reported global maritime crime incidents that have occurred in the last decade, only nine of them took place in North America. This figure comes from a range of threats against both commercial, and pleasure craft vessels, primarily, attempted, or successful: attacks…
Cyprus Gets EBRD Loan to Buy FSRU
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will provide an €80 million loan ($94,7 million), alongside EU and EIB financing, for a floating storage…
Large Bulk Carrier Grounds in Mauritius
The large 203,130 dwt bulk carrier Wakashio has run hard aground in an environmentally sensitive area off the east coast of Mauritius, on Saturday evening.The 300-meter, Panamanian-flagged vessel was sailing under ballast without cargo through a major shipping lane in the Indian Ocean when it went off course and grounded on the reefs of Pointe d'Esny, while en route from China to Brazil. Its last port call was in Singapore.The cause of the grounding is unknown.
LR Names Marine & Offshore President for SAMEA
LR has appointed Mike Holliday as Marine & Offshore president for South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa (SAMEA).In his new role, Holliday will lead LR’s Marine and Offshore operations across SAMEA, primarily based in Singapore, and be responsible for developing the business in current and emerging markets as well as identifying growth opportunities in the region including key gas, naval and offshore projects.Holliday’s remit will also include LR’s traditional portfolio such as classification…
New Mammoet Crane in Operation in Lagos Deep Offshore Logistic Base
Nigeria's Lagos Deep Offshore Logistic Base, LADOL, serving the country's offshore oil and gas industry, now has a new crane in operation - Mammoet Terminal Crane (MTC 15).LADOL and Mammoet had in January signed a partnership agreement aimed at growing LADOL’s capacity for project cargo handling and logistics for industrial sectors in West Africa. Mammoet then supplied LADOL with its heavy-lift terminal crane - MTC 15 - which has transformed LADOL’s quayside into a heavy lift terminal.
Optimarin Expands Service and Spare Parts Network
Norwegian based ballast water treatment system (BWTS) manufacturer Optimarin announced an agreement with U.S.-based Lee Engineering Supply Company to warehouse critical spare parts and plans to expand its global service network.According to Optimarin CEO, Leiv Kallestad, the agreement represents a step in the company’s efforts to provide after-sale service to owners operating in the Gulf of Mexico.
CMS Completes First Major WinGD X-DF Engine Overhaul
China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) equipment service subsidiary CSSC Marine Service Co (CMS) said it has completed the first ever major overhaul on two WinGD X-DF engines—in only nine days.The twin 6X62DF engines overhauled belong to the first ever X-DF powered vessel in operation, 2017-built 180,000-cbm liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier SK Audace, owned and operated by SK Shipping Co. LTD. The…
Asian Piracy Incidents Double in H1 2020
The number of reported attacks against ships has doubled in Asia over the first half of 2020, elevating security concerns for mariners across the region.A total of 51 cases of piracy and armed robbery against ships (including 50 actual incidents and one attempted incident) were reported in Asia from January through June 2020, up from 28 incidents (25 actual and three attempted) during the same period for 2019…
Shipowners Struggle to Bring Home Crews Amid Coronavirus Chaos
Shipping companies are still struggling to get hundreds of thousands of crew members back home after many months at sea despite pledges by countries to ease transit restrictions for seafarers, industry officials say.Countries including the UK, the United States, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines pledged this month to boost efforts to help seafarers, many of whom have been on ships longer than the 11-month limit laid out in a maritime labor convention.Other countries…
Crew Kidnapped from Tanker in the Gulf of Guinea
Armed pirates have reportedly kidnapped 13 seafarers from a Liberian-flagged product tanker in the Gulf of Guinea off West Africa, continuing a rise in attacks on…
Crew Kidnappings Soar in West Africa
Crew kidnappings and violent attacks on vessels in the oil-rich West Africa region have soared in 2020, with 77 seafarers taken hostage or kidnapped for ransom since January…
Italy Seizes Charity Rescue Vessel
Italian authorities have seized a boat operated by a German NGO that last month rescued more than 200 people stranded at sea, because it did not comply with safety rules, the Coast Guard said on Thursday.In April, Italy banned migrant rescue ships from docking in its ports until July 31 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
OCIMF Publishes New Guidance on DP System Failures
A new information paper on assurance of dynamic positioning (DP) system failure mode and effects analysis (FMEAs) seeks to improve the process of identifying all possible consequences and failures of DP systems.Entitled ‘Dynamic Positioning Failure Mode and Effects Analysis Assurance Framework, Risk-based Guidance’, the new information paper has been published by the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF)…
BV Appoints Gregg-Smith as China Chief Executive
Testing, inspection and certification (TIC) services company Bureau Veritas (BV) announced Alex Gregg-Smith has joined the BV group as Marine & Offshore Country Chief Executive, China.Reporting to Claude Maillot, Senior Vice President North Asia Zone, Gregg-Smith is based in Shanghai."We are delighted to have Alex back onboard with BV – and in such an important role," Maillot said. "China is so central to our activities…
CMA CGM Halts Timber Exports from Gambia Over Rosewood Risk
Shipping group CMA CGM said on Wednesday it was suspending timber exports from Gambia due to suspected trafficking of rosewood in the West African country.Demand for furniture in China has led to widespread felling of rosewood in West Africa in recent years, despite the variety being protected under the United Nations' Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)."Following several suspicions that undeclared rosewood may have been part of cargo shipment
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
