Maritime Industry Top News
US Senators from 12 States Seek Offshore Drilling Exemptions like Florida's
Twenty-two Democratic U.S. senators from 12 states on Thursday joined the chorus of local representatives seeking exemptions from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's newly proposed offshore drilling plan, after his surprise move on Tuesday to shield Florida. Zinke surprised lawmakers, governors, and industry groups on Tuesday night by announcing that Florida would be removed from the Interior Department's proposal to open up over 90 percent of federal waters to oil and gas leasing.
Drone Wars: French Navy Examines Cutting-edge Tech
Defense technology company Naval Group and helicopter manufacturer Airbus Helicopters will together lead an effort to develop warship based aerial drones for the French Navy. The French companies were recently contracted by the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) to perform a “de-risking” study ahead of future construction of tactical helicopter drones. The demonstration project will eventually lead to trials of the drone launch system…
Baltic Exchange to Develop LNG Freight Index
The Baltic Exchange is looking into launching a freight index for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and is working with leading ship brokers to explore potential shipping routes that might be used as the LNG market grows, the company said on Thursday. Founded in 1744 as a forum for chartering vessels, the Baltic Exchange now produces benchmark indexes for global shipping rates, including ones used by the multi-billion dollar freight derivatives market.
Malaysia to Pay up to $70 Mln if MH370 is Found
Malaysia signed a deal on Wednesday to pay a U.S. seabed exploration firm up to $70 million if it finds the missing Malaysia Airlines aircraft MH370 within 90 days of embarking on a new search in the Southern Indian ocean. The disappearance of the aircraft en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014 with 239 people aboard ranks among the world’s greatest aviation mysteries. Australia, China and Malaysia ended a fruitless A$200-million ($157 million) search of a 120,000 sq.
Wärtsilä Developing Hybrid Tug for Brazil
Wärtsilä said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop a new environmentally friendly tug design for a new port facility being built in the Brazilian city of São Mateus. The MoU, signed with Petrocity, parent company of a new port facility, will see Wärtsilä develop a harbor tug design based on its recently launched Wärtsilä HYTug, which features hybrid propulsion and energy storage using batteries.
Norsafe Enters the Cruise and Passenger Ferry Market
Lifeboat manufacturer Norsafe has developed a new partially enclosed lifeboat (PELB) for passenger vessels: the SOLAS compliant Minima 88, a compact 8.8m long boat with a width of 4.25m for 150 persons. Norsafe said it has received an order from Chinese shipbuilder Xiamen Shipyard to provide six of its new Minima-88 lifeboats with compatible LHD-200 davits for Finland based operator Viking Line. The ferry newbuild is due to enter service in 2021 on routes across the Baltic Sea between Turku…
China Oil Spill Compensation Claims Face Iran Payment Snags
The reluctance of foreign banks to deal with Iran could complicate any compensation payments resulting from the collision last week of an Iranian oil tanker and a Chinese cargo ship, sources say. The tanker Sanchi, carrying 136,000 tonnes of highly flammable condensate oil, collided with the Chinese dry cargo vessel CF Crystal on Saturday in the East China Sea, causing an oil spill and a blaze that is still raging four days later.
Damen Delivers Patrol Vessel to Nigeria
Homeland Integrated Offshore Services Ltd (Homeland) of Lagos, Nigeria, has taken delivery of another Damen 3307 Patrol Vessel for operations in the offshore oil fields in the Gulf of Guinea. This takes the total delivered vessels/Guardians since the first arrived in early 2014 to four. Guardian 4 has joined its three sister ships in providing security services to the oil majors active in Nigeria’s territorial waters…
Sunken Vessel Discharging Oil in West Virginia
Towboat Gate City has sunk and is reportedly discharging oil near mile marker 8 on the Big Sandy River near Butler, W.Va. The vessel is discharging oil into the river “with a maximum potential of 5,000 gallons,” according to the U.S. Coast Guard, who said it received a report that the vessel had sunk at its mooring Wednesday morning. A Coast Guard pollution response team arrived on scene and is working…
Rescuers Resume Search for Sanchi Survivors
Rescue boats resumed their search in choppy waters of the East China Sea on Thursday for any survivors from the stricken Iranian oil tanker that collided with a…
Concordia Maritime Charters Two More MR Vessels
Swedish tanker owner Concordia Maritime has chartered in two more MR (ECO) vessels, while also extending the contracts for two of the currently chartered MR (ECO) vessels by a further year.
Eagle Bulk Shipping Adds New Ultramax
U.S. based owner of Handymax dry bulk vessels Eagle Bulk Shipping has announced that it has taken delivery of its newly acquired vessel, the M/V New London Eagle, a 2015-built CROWN-63 Ultramax.
Chabahar Port "Win-Win" Situation for India, Iran
Chabahar Port was very important for both India and Iran, and offered a win-win situation to both countries, Indian Minister of Shipping Nitin Gadkari said. A government…
TEN Sells, Leaseback Two Suezmax Tankers
Greece-based Tsakos Energy Navigation (TEN) has announced that it has sold for $65.2 million gross, through a five-year sale and leaseback transaction, the 2005…
German Boxship Collides with Crane at Keelung Port
A German-flagged container ship Hansa Meersburg ran into a crane while berthing at Keelung Port, Taiwan resulting in the damage of containers and port infrastructure, CNA reported.
Andreas Silcher Negotiates LNG Carrier Contracts
Partner Andreas Silcher in Haynes and Boone’s London office represented TMS Cardiff Gas in its contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries of Korea (HHI) for the construction of one 174…
Bahri Dry Bulk Secures Newbuild Finance
Bahri Dry Bulk, a business unit of global transportation and logistics leader Bahri, has announced that it has secured a Sharia-compliant funding of SAR 360 million (USD 96mln) from Bank Albilad…
GasLog Partners Eyes USD 97mln through IPO
US based LNG carrier GasLog Partners is expecting to raise up to USD 97 million by selling shares to finance future fleet expansion. The New York-listed spinoff…
Attack on Saudi Oil Tanker Thwarted
The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said on Wednesday it had thwarted an attack on a Saudi oil tanker over the weekend by Houthi fighters near the Red Sea port of Hodeidah. The coalition destroyed a boat carrying explosives as it headed towards the tanker on Saturday, coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Maliki said. Yemen lies on the southern mouth of the Red Sea, one of the world's most important trade routes for oil tankers…
Iranian Warship Crashes at Caspian Port, Two Crew Missing
An Iranian warship crashed into concrete wave breakers at a port in the Caspian Sea and two of its crew members are missing, according to local media reports. The 100-meter long warship…
