Maritime Industry Top News
Brazil Agency Nears Decision on Offshore Equatorial Margin
The head of Brazil's environmental agency said on Wednesday that he expects a decision soon on state-owned oil company Petrobras' request to conduct exploratory studies in a region known as the Equatorial Margin, as both the company and the government push for a drilling license.Petrobras has been seeking to explore the northernmost part of the Equatorial Margin, near the mouth of the Amazon River…
Philippines Tells Beijing Words Must Match Actions in South China Sea
The Philippines urged China on Wednesday to avoid actions that endanger sailors and vessels in the South China Sea, saying peace could not be achieved if China's words did not match its behaviour in the disputed waters.The Philippine foreign ministry denounced as "illegal and aggressive" China's actions during a routine resupply mission on June 17, which the Philippine military said had severely injured…
India Approves $9-billion Port to Boost Trade with Europe
India's cabinet approved development on Wednesday of a new deep-water port that the government said will be a crucial part of a plan to connect the Asian country with Europe by sea and rail links through the Middle East.The Vadhavan port will be built on India's western coast, about 150 km (93 miles) from financial capital Mumbai, for 762 billion Indian rupees ($9.14 billion), Information Minister…
New Maritime Cybersecurity Body Launched
As digital technologies continue to permeate the international shipping industry, a newly launched organization aims to raise the standard of cybersecurity risk assessment across the maritime sector.The International Maritime Cyber Security Organization (IMCSO) will recognize appropriate cybersecurity professional certifications as well as offer certification for maritime specific knowledge. In addition…
German Port Strikes Disrupt $6 Billion in Trade
Port strikes at five key five German ports may cost $6 billion (£4.71 billion) in lost trade according to data and analytics company Russell Group.Of this $6 billion, analysis by Russell’s ALPS Marine has identified that commodities such as cars & people carriers ($399 million/£313 million), good transport vehicles ($129 million/£101 million) and pharmaceuticals ($717 million/£559 million) have been disrupted by the strikes.
Ukraine Resumes Ferry Services to Georgia's Black Sea Port of Batumi
Ukrainian ferry company Ukrferry will resume services between the Black Sea port of Chornomorsk and Batumi in Georgia, according to the company's timetable.The ferry service was halted after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Its resumption will allow Kyiv to gain direct access to its markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.The first voyage is scheduled to depart Chornomorsk on July 9 and arrive in Georgia on July 12."Regular services accept passengers...
Shipping Industry Urges Red Sea Action as Houthis Sink Second Vessel
Urgent action must be taken in the Red Sea to stop attacks on merchant shipping by Yemen's Houthis, leading industry groups said on Wednesday, after the sinking of a second ship.Iran-aligned Houthi militants first launched drone and missile strikes on the important trade route in November in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In more than 70 attacks, they have also seized one vessel…
Mooreast to Quadruple Production Capacity with Seatrium Facility Purchase
Singapore-based mooring and anchoring specialist Mooreast Holdings has set out plans to acquire a 98,919 sqm facility from Seatrium’s subsidiary, quadrupling its production capacity in Singapore to serve the floating offshore renewable sector.The SGX Catalist-listed specialist in total mooring solutions catering to the renewable sector has been granted an option to purchase 60 Shipyard Crescent by Seatrium New Energy…
Trauma from Red Sea Attacks Adds to Seafarer Shortage
When a missile fired by Yemen's Houthi Islamists landed near his ship in the Red Sea, Costas Rassias vowed to stop sailing through the perilous waters."I froze," said the Greek 34-year-old second class marine engineer, describing the close call. "I weighed what was more important - my life, or a better income?"As attacks on merchant ships by the Iran-backed Houthis persist, traumatised seafarers are refusing to sail through the Red Sea…
Transatlantic Partnership to Deliver First Vessel-to-Grid Project for Marine Electrification
The consortium consisting of UK and Canadian companies, led by Aqua superPower and BlueGrid, have launched the first transatlantic vessel-to-grid (V2G) project that will deploy bi-directional chargers and electric vessels in U.K.’s Plymouth and Canada’s Halifax.The $2.3 million (£1.8 million) CanUK V2G project will feature bi-directional charging technology which lets electric vessel batteries both receive and supply energy…
Corvus Energy Gets DNV’s Blessing for Blue Whale Marine Storage System
Corvus Energy has received type approval from DNV for its Blue Whale marine energy storage system (ESS).The DNV type-approval confirms that the large-scale ESS complies with the most stringent rules, regulations, and safety requirements in the industry, as defined by one of the leading maritime class societies.The Blue Whale ESS is designed specifically for large vessels, like cruise ships, Ro-Pax and service operation vessels (SOV)…
GCMD Reports on Biofuel Degradation Study
The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) has released a report, “Tracking the Propensity of Biofuels Degradation Across the Maritime Supply Chain.”The report includes findings from tracking the quality of FAME and FAME blends as they make their way through the supply chains and on consumption onboard vessels.Unlike conventional marine fuels, FAME-based biofuels can be unstable since its natural oils and fats can slowly oxidize when exposed to atmospheric oxygen.
Hoppe Marine Opens US Office
Provider of measurement and control solutions for the marine industry, Hoppe Marine, has opened an office for its new subsidiary, Hoppe America Inc.The new company is based in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, and is led by Ivo Beu as president. Beu is a naval architect with a unique blend of substantial maritime business background and project management skills.Starting his career as a naval architect at Flender Shipyard and MTG Marinetechnik, Beu later transitioned to the sales side.
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Receives Orders for Methanol-Fueled RoRos
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has received orders from Toyofuji Shipping and Fukuju Shipping for Japan's first methanol-fueled roros.The two ships will be built at the Enoura Plant of MHI's Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture, with scheduled completion and delivery by the end of fiscal 2027.The ships will be approximately 169.9 meters in overall length and 30.2 meters in breadth…
Ivory Coast Expects Threefold Oil Output Increase by 2027
Ivory Coast expects a more than threefold increase to its oil output by 2027, boosted by recent oil and gas discoveries at the West African nation's Baleine and Calao offshore fields, President Alassane Ouattara said on Tuesday.The world's top cocoa-producing nation is hoping to become a major regional oil and gas producer and regional energy hub.Ouattara told a joint session of parliament that more than $15 billion is expected to be invested in the country's oil sector, adding that output would
Petrobras to Study Potential Offshore Wind Project in Rio
Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras has signed an agreement with the Rio de Janeiro state government to study a potential offshore wind power pilot project, the firm said on Tuesday in a securities filing.(Reuters - Reporting by Luana Maria Benedito; Editing by Kylie Madry)
Bulk Carrier Reportedly Sunk by Houthis in the Red Sea
Yemen's Houthi militants are believed to have sunk a second ship, the Tutor, in the Red Sea, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Tuesday.The Greek-owned Tutor coal carrier was struck by missiles and an explosive-laden remote-controlled boat on June 12 and had been taking on water, according to previous reports from UKMTO, the Houthis and other sources."Military authorities report maritime debris and oil sighted in the (Tutor's) last reported location…
Fiji's Brand New Patrol Boat Runs Aground
Responders are working to salvage Fiji's brand new naval patrol boat, which ran aground during its maiden voyage last week.The vessel, RFNS Puamau, is a Guardian-class Patrol Boat (GCPB) built by Austal for the Australian Department of Defence, which gifted the vessel to the Republic of Fiji Navy.Just months after the vessel's official handover in March, it hit a reef on Fiji's remote Lau group of islands on June 10…
So Close to Death: Captain Recounts Migrant Sea Rescue
Saving migrants from one of the shipwrecks that have left dozens dead or missing off Italy's shores involved walking through bodies to find barely alive survivors, the NGO captain involved in one of the rescues said on Tuesday.One boat with 51 survivors and 10 bodies was intercepted about 90 kilometres (56 miles) south of the island of Lampedusa, while another was spotted about 200 kilometres east…
Ship Manager Calls on Houthis to Free Galaxy Leader Crew
Managers of the Galaxy Leader cargo ship on Tuesday renewed calls for the release of the vessel's 25 crew being held by Yemen's Houthi militants for seven months.The militants used helicopters to attack the Bahamas-flagged ship on Nov. 19. They captured the Bulgarian ship master and chief officer, along with 17 Filipinos and other sailors from Ukraine, Mexico and Romania, the ship managers said."There is nothing to be gained by the Houthis in keeping the 25 crew members…
