Marine Link
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Foreign Ship News

11 Sep 2022

Iran Guards Seize Foreign Ship for Smuggling Diesel

© Postmodern Studio / Adobe Stock

Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have seized a foreign vessel in the Gulf for allegedly smuggling 757,000 liters of diesel out of the country, the Iranian state news agency IRNA reported on Saturday.The unnamed vessel's seven crew members, who are foreign nationals, have been handed over to legal authorities, IRNA reported without elaborating on the nationalities of the ship or its crew.Iran, which has some of the world's cheapest fuel prices due to heavy subsidies and the plunge in value of its national currency, has been fighting rampant fuel smuggling by land to neighboring countries and b

22 Jun 2022

Russia, Turkey to Pursue Talks on Ukraine Grain Exports

© kolyadzinskaya / Adobe Stock

Russia and Turkey agreed to pursue talks on a potential safe sea corridor in the Black Sea to export grain from Ukraine after discussions in Moscow, the Russian and Turkish defense ministries said on Wednesday.In a statement, Turkey's defense ministry said a Turkish dry cargo vessel, the Azov Concord, had also safely left Mariupol as a result of the talks, and added the ship was the first foreign ship to leave the port since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.Ukraine is one of the top global wheat suppliers, but shipments have been halted by Russia's invasion, causing global food shortages.

18 May 2022

Iran Says It Seized Foreign Ship Smuggling Fuel, Detained Crew

© remipiotrowski / Adobe Stock

Iranian authorities seized a foreign ship attempting to smuggle fuel out of the country and detained its crew, state new agency IRNA said on Wednesday.Iran, which has some of the world's cheapest fuel prices due to heavy subsidies and the plunge in value of its national currency, has been fighting rampant fuel smuggling by land to neighboring countries and by sea to Gulf Arab states.The ship, carrying more than 550,000 liters of smuggled fuel, was seized in Gulf waters and escorted to harbor in the southern province of Hormozgan, where it was handed to judicial authorities for investigation, t

25 Apr 2022

Iran Guards Seize Foreign Ship in Gulf for Smuggling Fuel

© Fredex / Adobe Stock

Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have seized a foreign vessel in the Gulf for smuggling 200,000 liters of fuel, a senior Guards commander told the semi-official Fars news agency on Sunday."The ship was seized in the northern part of the Persian Gulf.

23 Mar 2022

Shipowners Wary of Moving Russian Oil

© James Steidl / Adobe Stock

Foreign ship owners are becoming increasingly wary of moving cargoes of Russian oil due to the conflict in Ukraine and the impact of Western sanctions on Moscow, the head of leading private Greek shipping group Angelicoussis said on Wednesday.U.S. President Joe Biden has imposed a ban on Russian oil and other energy imports following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and there is growing uncertainty over potentially tougher restrictions across Europe.Maria Angelicoussis, CEO of Angelicoussis Group…

22 Nov 2021

Iran's Guards Seize Foreign Ship in Gulf

© Andrea Izzotti / Adobe Stock

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday they had seized a foreign ship in Gulf waters loaded with what they described as smuggled diesel.Guards commander Ahmad Hajian said the ship's 11 crew had been detained, but did not give details on their nationality or identify the ship."After inspection, more than 150,000 liters of smuggled diesel were discovered," Iran's state broadcaster quoted Hajian as saying.The semi-official Fars news agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards…

31 Aug 2018

Inland Waterways Authority of India Releases Ship Designs for River Ganga

Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) made public 13 standardised state-of-the-art ship designs suitable for large barge haulage on river Ganga (National Waterway-1).This marks attaining of a critical milestone in the growth of the country’s Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector as it will help overcome the unique navigation challenges river Ganga throws due to its complex river morphology, hydraulics, acute bends, shifting channels, meanders and current.It will serve as an enabler for domestic shipbuilding industry working on inland vessels and open huge possibilities for cargo and passenger movement on National Waterway-1.The Government…

26 Jan 2018

Domestic Maritime Training: In Extremis

The built-for-purpose National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) training ship comes to life. Anybody who has spent four years at a State Maritime Academy (SMA) has also spent time at sea on a Marad-owned training vessel. Today, these platforms are long in the tooth, equipped with outdated equipment and not necessarily conducive to the task of training cadets for a future career at sea. For a long time, though, they’ve gotten the job done. It is also true that some of these hulls are one equipment casualty away from the bone yard, despite that best efforts of the schools tasked with their upkeep. That’s got SMA officials worried. The Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s Academic Dean Brad Lima knows what is at stake. “Kennedy is 50 years old and sound mechanically.

30 Nov 2017

Capesize Rates to Climb in a 'Market on Fire'

(Photo: Star Bulk)

Freight rates for large dry cargo ships on key Asian routes, which hit three-year highs this week, are likely to rise further on a shortage of ships available for immediate charter, brokers said. Rates for 180,000 deadweight tonne (DWT) capesize ships are set to break $10 a tonne from Australia to China in the next few days, while rates could also surpass $20 a tonne from Brazil to China. "There are more chances of rates breaking $10 than $20 because the Australian market is more active among miners and vessel operators," a Singapore-based capesize broker said on Thursday.

10 May 2017

Mariners, Shipbuilders Call on President to Put U.S. National & Economic Security First

Profoundly damaging announcement by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) puts foreign companies first and American companies and workers last. The Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) today responded to an announcement by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to withdraw its second proposal to modify and revoke letter rulings. This decision hurts American workers, vessel owners, and U.S. shipbuilders and prevents the creation of 3,200 new American jobs. Obliging to foreign interests, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recommended a regulatory review process that will significantly delay the lawful and correct enforcement of the Jones Act which requires good moving between one U.S. port and another be moved on vessels that are U.S. built, U.S. owned and U.S. crewed.

03 Aug 2016

Is Hanjin Shipping Going Into Court Receivership?

According to a latest report in Korea Times, South Korea's biggest container carrier Hanjin Shipping's efforts to settle the rescheduling deadlines for financing ships and reducing charter fees before the end of July has not yet be resolved. This situation is raising concerns over the possibility that the nation's top shipping line may go into court receivership. Or, Hanjin may get a month's extension from creditor banks of an August 4 deadline of a voluntary restructuring agreement, giving the shipping major more time to comply with conditions that will prevent it from seeking court receivership. As on Tuesday, Hanjin Shipping has failed to conclude negotiations with foreign ship owners and creditors in a bid to lower charter fees and prolong looming deadlines for financing its shipping.

23 Jul 2016

US Navy Tests Latest Aegis Weapon System

The U.S. Navy conducted a series of cooperative air defense test exercises with the Spanish navy that culminated in live missile firing events using the latest Aegis Weapon System baseline July 20-21. The event was not only the first interoperability test of the latest Aegis Baseline 9.C1 with a foreign ship, but also the first combined Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trial with that country's navy since 2007. Guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) and Spanish frigate Cristobol Colon (F 105) participated in the testing. In addition to live missile firing events, Tactical Data Link interoperability exercises were held July 12-14. "While our combat systems suites are slightly different, the way we operate and execute missions are quite similar," said Cmdr.

20 May 2016

Hanjin Shipping Bondholders Okay Debt Freeze

South Korea's largest shipping line Hanjin Shipping said bondholders agreed to extend the maturity of Won35.8bn ($30.1m) in debts by four months to September 23 this year, in a major step to help the company avoid bankruptcy. According to a report in the Korea Herald, during a meeting on Thursday, bondholders gave the nod to the firm’s proposal,  marking a good start to meeting one of the conditions for its creditor-led restructuring. On May 5, creditors of the Cash-strapped Hanjin Shipping agreed to offer financial assistance to the company and initiate a corporate rehabilitation program with conditions attached. The debt maturity extension was part of conditions that include a cut in charter rates and an inclusion in a global shipping alliance.

18 May 2016

Malaysia Passes Merchant Shipping Ordinance (Amendment) Bill 2016

The Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) of the 13th Parliament of Malaysia has passed the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (Amendment) Bill 2016 aimed at standardizing national maritime law with the international maritime community, reports Bernama. Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi, when winding up the debate on the bill, gave assurance that the government would ensure that all merchant shipping companies would adhere to the national maritime law in ensuring the wellbeing of seafarers. "The Marine Department will carry out annual audit on these merchant shipping companies to ensure compliance of the maritime law," he said.

10 May 2016

FMC’s Doyle Addresses Intermodal Hot Topics

William P. Doyle (Photo: FMC)

Speaking at the Intermodal Association of North America on May 5 in Chicago, U.S. Federal Maritime Commissioner William P. Doyle discussed several of the shipping industry’s hottest topics, including ocean carrier consolidations and alliances, container weight VGM under SOLAS, and chassis. “We’ve all heard the recent announcements related to consolidations, for instance, CGM CGM and NOL-APL; and COSCO and CSCL. “We’ve all heard the announcement that Hapag Lloyd and UASC are in discussions on a possible merger.

18 Feb 2016

K&L's Gorton Stresses Critical Role of Jones Act

A former member of the 9-11 Commission recently wrote in The Hill that an “often overlooked” benefit of the Jones Act is its role in homeland security and border protection. Former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton and former state attorney general and homeland security expert from the Commission, said he finds border security the Jones Act’s “most vital benefit” in addition to its economic benefits of supporting more than 500,000 American jobs and the nearly $100 billion it fuels into the U.S. economy every year. The complete article written by Mr. As homeland security and border control remain a top priority among presidential candidates, one important provider of that security is often overlooked—the principal role the domestic maritime industry plays in securing America’s borders.

27 Jan 2016

AMP Demands Retraction of Jones Act Report

The American Maritime Partnership (AMP), the voice of the domestic maritime industry, today released a statement in response to the sheer number of factual errors in the recent report published by the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure’s (Aii) – Jones Act: Protectionism v. Global Trade. “The publication is littered with fabrications intended to mislead policymakers and we demand a retraction of the report," said Tom Allegretti, Chairman of AMP. “It is shocking that a nonprofit organization led by former senior members of the U.S. military would produce such a factually inaccurate report and take such a myopic view of an important national security issue. They have failed to even acknowledge the fact that the U.S.

18 May 2015

Singapore Demands Investigation into Shooting Incident

Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) has condemned Iranian forces for firing warning shots in the Gulf at a Singapore-flagged Alpine Eternity which it said was in international waters, calling it a “serious violation of international law”. Five Iranian boats had fired shots across the bow of Alpine Eternity in the international waters off the Gulf, and MPA said it is "deeply concerned with such actions". The Alpine Eternity was attacked by a number of small craft in international waters off the UAE in the latest escalation in the region. MPA also urged Tehran to investigate the incident. “With regard to the reported shooting incident on 14 May 2015…

16 Jan 2015

OMSA Opposes McCain Amendment

Ben Billings (Photo: OMSA)

The Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) issued a statement regarding Senator John McCain’s proposal allowing foreign-built vessels to take over marine transportation in the United States, stating the amendment would gut U.S. shipbuilding while outsourcing jobs and security. “Senator McCain has proposed an amendment to eliminate a cornerstone of U.S. maritime policy that dates back to the founding of our nation. The reservation of domestic transportation to U.S.-built vessels ensures the existence and viability of America’s shipbuilding industrial base.

02 May 2014

Naming of Evergas’ first vessel under the Danish flag

The Director General of the Danish Maritime Authority Andreas Nordseth recently attended the naming ceremony of Evergas’ new gas tanker that is to carry petrochemical gas for use in the plastic industry. It is Evergas’ first vessel under the Danish flag. “By having more ships under the flag, we ensure continued ship owner activities in Denmark for the benefit of employment and Blue Denmark as a whole," said  Andreas Nordseth. "We are pleased that Evergas has chosen the Danish flag for its newest vessel and consider it a recognition that Denmark is an attractive place in which to do maritime business. Blue Denmark, a term used for all maritime companies and professions in Denmark…

24 Mar 2014

China Shipbuilding Industry Midgets Reigned In

China shipyard: File photo CCL

China signaled that it will cut its vast shipyard army to get industrial growth back on a healthy track this year, as its earning ability falters amid cheap vessel prices, blind expansion and speculation in the shipbuilding sector, according to Xinhua. China will drastically curb the number of shipyards, docks, berths and maintenance facilities it opens, reports Xinhua, citing Li Dong, deputy director-general at the department of equipment industry at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

07 Nov 2012

Two Shippers Apply for US Jones Act Waiver

Two shippers to use waiver to ship fuel to U.S. Northeast in the acute fuel shortage following the passage of Hurricane Sandy. Two companies have told the United States they intend to take advantage of a waiver allowing foreign-flagged ships to take oil products and additives from the U.S. Gulf to the Northeast to help relieve a fuel crunch after Hurricane Sandy, a government source informed Reuters. The Department of Homeland Security issued a rare blanket waiver of the 1920 Jones Act on recently. At the time, only one company had indicated it wanted to ship fuel to the Northeast on a foreign ship. The waiver allows foreign-flagged ships to load oil products from the Gulf of Mexico until Nov. 13 and deliver it to ports in the Northeast by Nov. 20. Source: Reuters

29 Jul 2012

Vietnam Maintenance Base Granted to Russian Navy

Sang, speaking to the Voice of Russia radio station ahead of a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, stressed that the port would not be a Russian military base. But he also said that Cam Ranh would be used to help develop “military co-operation” between the two former Cold War allies. Sang also said Hanoi was planning to develop the capacity to provide maintenance services to any foreign ship docking at Cam Ranh, a former Soviet naval base. Russia currently has only one foreign military base outside the former Soviet Union – in Tartus, Syria. But officials say the base is little more than a re-fuelling stop for Russian warships. Russia’s naval chief, Vice Admiral Viktor Chirkov, confirmed that Russia was in talks on obtaining naval bases in Cuba, Vietnam and in the Seychelles.

Subscribe for
Maritime Reporter E-News

Maritime Reporter E-News is the maritime industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email five times per week