Marine Link
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Relief Effort News

28 Feb 2022

Shell to Pull the Plug on Gazprom Equity Partnerships

In the announcement of Shell's decision to exit joint ventures with Gazprom, Shell’s chief executive officer, Ben van Beurden, said: “We are shocked by the loss of life in Ukraine, which we deplore, resulting from a senseless act of military aggression which threatens European security.” 
Photo Credit Photographic Services, Shell International Limited

In the latest corporate backlash to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Board of Shell plc said it intends to exit its joint ventures with Gazprom and related entities, including its 27.5 percent stake in the Sakhalin-II liquefied natural gas facility, its 50 percent stake in the Salym Petroleum Development and the Gydan energy venture. Shell also intends to end its involvement in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project.“We are shocked by the loss of life in Ukraine, which we deplore…

05 Sep 2019

Bahamians Struggle in Dorian's Devastating Wake

A file image of Equinor's South Riding Point storage terminal (CREDIT: Equinor)

Stunned residents of the Bahamas surveyed the wreckage of their homes and officials struggled to assess the number killed by Hurricane Dorian, as the storm bore down on the South Carolina coast, threatening record flooding on Thursday.The United Nations said 70,000 people in the Bahamas needed immediate humanitarian relief after the most damaging storm ever to hit the island nation.Aerial video of the worst-hit Abaco Islands in the northern Bahamas showed widespread devastation…

21 Feb 2018

UK to Sell HMS Ocean to Brazil

HMS Ocean heading for the Caribbean. Crown copyright.

The MOD has agreed to sell HMS Ocean to the Government of Brazil after 20 years of service. Sold to the Brazilian Navy for around £84M ($117m), the profit generated from the sale will be reinvested in defence at a time when the Royal Navy is being strengthened with two types of brand new frigates and two huge aircraft carriers. HMS Queen Elizabeth, which will eventually take on the role as the nation’s new flagship, recently set sail from the port of Gibraltar carrying two Chinooks and four Merlin helicopters as she readies for helicopter trials at sea.

06 Nov 2017

Op/Ed: Facts Do Matter - A Defense of the Jones Act

Credit: OMSA

I recently read a story in The New Yorker – but that sounds more intellectual than what really happened, let me start over. I recently clicked a link on Facebook, which sought to explain why the term “Fake News” has become so popular. The article claimed that facts no longer matter to the average voter. As evidence (yes, the article explaining why facts don’t matter included evidence), it detailed a study whereby the subjects had been given false information, then were asked to make a choice between two options.

02 Nov 2017

Crowley Vessel Enters US Mainland-Puerto Rico Trade

455-3 Sailed Tuesday with First Commercial and FEMA Loads (Photo: Crowley)

Crowley Maritime Corp. said it has retrofitted two of its heavy lift, flat-deck barges, 455-3 and Marty J, to provide additional capacity to customers shipping cargo between the U.S. mainland and Puerto Rico. With the 455-3 sailing early Tuesday morning from the Port of Jacksonville, Crowley has now expanded its fleet from nine to 16 vessels, further increasing U.S. flag capacity to transport commercial and relief supplies to support the island’s recovery after Hurricane Maria in late September.

09 Oct 2017

Crowley's 24/7 Response to Puerto Rico Crisis is Ongoing

20 Vessels, 6,500 Loads of Cargo will be Offloaded by Week’s End. The Full-Scale Logistics Operation includes 375 Trucks Used to Expedite Deliveries. With employees working around the clock and its vessels calling the Port of San Juan almost daily, Crowley Maritime Corp. said today it will have offloaded by the end of this week more than 6,500 loads of FEMA and commercial cargo from 20 vessels since Hurricane Maria struck the island in late September. And the company projects another 9 vessels, carrying between 2,500 and 3,000 loads, will arrive in Puerto Rico next week. “I am very grateful for the extraordinary work of our teams in San Juan, Jacksonville and in other parts of the country,” said Tom Crowley, chairman and CEO.

29 Sep 2017

U.S. Army General to Lead to Puerto Rico Recovery Effort

The Pentagon named a senior general to command military relief operations in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico on Thursday and the Trump administration sent a Cabinet emissary to the island as U.S. lawmakers called for a more robust response to the crisis. The U.S. territory of 3.4 million people struggled through a ninth day with virtually no electricity, patchy communications and shortages of fuel, clean water and other essentials in the wake of Hurricane Maria, the most powerful storm to hit the island in nearly 90 years. The storm struck on Sept. 20 with lethal, roof-ripping force and torrential rains that caused widespread flooding and heavily damaged homes, roads and other infrastructure. The storm killed more than 30 people across the Caribbean, including at least 16 in Puerto Rico.

28 Sep 2017

Reps. Hunter, Garamendi Concerned over Jones Act Waiver

(File photo: Crowley)

Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and John Garamendi (D-CA), Chairman and Ranking Member respectively of the Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, raised concerns today over the Trump Administration’s decision to issue a 10-day waiver of the Jones Act for relief shipments into Puerto Rico. Hunter and Garamendi held a listening session Thursday morning with other members of the Maritime Transportation Committee and representatives from the American maritime industry to explore this issue in depth.

31 Mar 2017

Australia: Melville Assists Daydream Island

HMAS Melville's Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat prepares to deliver emergency water supplies to Daydream Island as the ship supports the rescue of more than 400 people, following the destruction caused by Tropical Cyclone Debbie. Photo: Royal Australian Navy

More than 400 stranded guests and staff have been rescued from Daydream Island off Queensland, ravaged by Tropical Cyclone Debbie, thanks to the actions of HMAS Melville. The hydrographic ship was operating near Townsville when the cyclone hit the Whitsunday Islands, and followed the tail end of the system through rough seas as Debbie headed south. Melville’s Commanding Officer, Commander Neil Cheverton said his crew had worked with local authorities to coordinate ferry access to Thursday Island, to evacuate the resort.

23 Nov 2016

HMAS Darwin Completes Earthquake Relief

HMAS Darwin has completed her mission in earthquake ravaged Kaikoura, New Zealand. In the space of 36 hours, Darwin evacuated more than 60 civilians by sea boat to local ship, HMNZS Canterbury, and delivered approximately 13,500 kilograms of food, water and emergency supplies by helicopter. Commanding Officer Darwin, Commander Phillip Henry said working in a humanitarian and disaster relief effort as part of an international naval task group was breath-taking. “Our teams have made a real difference on the ground restoring essential services and encouraging the community,” he said. Darwin's embarked S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopter performed the bulk of the load lifting.

23 Jul 2015

Landing Craft Gifted to Philippines by Oz

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC, RAN, was joined at HMAS Cairns today by his Philippine counterpart, Flag Officer in Command Philippine Navy, Vice Admiral Jesus Millan, at a ceremony to gift two decommissioned Australian Balikpapan class landing craft to the Government of the Philippines. Super Typhoon Haiyan caused significant devastation to the Philippines in November 2013 and approximately 500 Australian Defence Force personnel, including the crew of HMAS Tobruk and a deployment of Army Engineers, provided in-country support to the relief effort, at the request of the Philippines Government. “The relief effort highlighted the importance of regional sea lift options due to numerous airfields being inaccessible and land infrastructure impassable…

31 Mar 2015

Vanuatu Clean-Up: Rivergate Aids Residents

In the wake of Tropical Cyclone Pam, which hit landfall on March 13, 2015, latest reports indicate that more than 65,000 people are now homeless and over 110,000 are left without safe drinking water in Vanuatu. Australia's Rivergate Marina and Shipyard, working in conjunction with YachtAid Global, is doing what they can to provide relief to the disaster affected country. YachtAid representatives and activist are on the ground in Vanuatu and report that “Rivergate’s support comes a critical time” for the community. The donation made by Rivergate has made a substantial impact already.

10 Aug 2014

HMAS Tobruk Completes Philippines Visit

Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Tobruk has departed Manila in the Philippines after a four-day visit. The short break gave the ship’s company an opportunity to continue their association with Filipino colleagues. Tobruk’s Commanding Officer, Commannder Leif Maxfield, said the crew had been looking forward to seeing the changes in the region since the ship deployed as part of Operation PHILIPPINES ASSIST. “Nine months ago Tobruk was diverted to support the multi-national relief effort in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan,” Commander Maxfield said. “We spent a month in the region, assisting with clean up tasks at Ormoc schools and distributed aid supplies to remote island communities in the Visayas archipelago.

26 Nov 2013

USS George Washington Replaced in Philippine Relief Effort

USS Germantown: Photo USN

Dock landing ships 'USS Ashland' (LSD-48) and 'USS Germantown' (LSD-42) have replaced aircraft carrier 'USS George Washington', in the concerted efforts to extend relief efforts to typhoon victims in the Visayas region of the Philippines. Ashland and Germantown have aboard a combined total of approximately 900 Marines, elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Okinawa, Japan. "Having amphibious ships here, along with the 31st MEU, brings more logistical capability and capacity to augment our ongoing relief operations in Visayas…

12 Nov 2013

Maritime Industry Responds to Typhoon in the Philippines

Shipowner groups, unions and welfare organizations are pulling together in response to the devastating effects of Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines. One of the main concerns is for Filipino seafarers, who represent more than 20% of the world's seafarers, to be able to contact their families and loved ones back home. Already, the Mission to Seafarers and Sailors Society are providing free phone cards, sims and wifi to Filipino seafarers who visit their centers all over the world. The Seafarers' Emergency Fund, administered by ISWAN, is providing funds for seafarer centers around the world to facilitate free phone calls and wifi for Filipino seafarers to call back home.

12 Nov 2013

Philippine Tugboat Owner Plugs in to Relief Effort

Harbor Star tugboat: Photo courtesy of Harbor Star

Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc. has loaned one of its barges to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to help transport relief goods and emergency tools to Tacloban City in Leyte and other sites massively ravaged by the super-typhoon, reports the nations's 'BusinessMirror'. The company’s board of directors approved the availability of its 300-footer Barge Lynx for free offer to the PCG to use in its relief operations in areas badly hit by Supertypoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan).

10 Nov 2011

Seafarer Heroism Honored at AOTOS Event

Presenters: Rear Admiral Mark Buzby, USN Commander of Military Sealift Command,The Honorable Helen Delich Bentley, David Matsuda, U.S. Maritime Administrator

Five separate episodes of heroism and bravery on the high seas were recognized at the 42nd annual United Seamen's Service Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) dinner. The AOTOS event itself honored James L. Henry, Chairman and President of the Transportation Institute; General Duncan J. McNabb, USAF, former Commander, U.S. Transportation Command; and Robert D. Somerville, Chairman of ABS (formerly the American Bureau of Shipping). The maritime industry's most prestigious awards since…

01 Nov 2011

Viking Aids Food Victims in Thailand

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment, a manufacturer of safety equipment, is providing aid to residents in Thailand. The country is in the middle of the worst flooding in more than 50 years that has killed over 300 persons, displaced another 100,000 and caused widespread damage to homes and infrastructure. “We are of course deeply touched by the situation and we naturally feel an obligation to provide assistance to a community that has given VIKING so much”, says Henrik Uhd Christensen, CEO of VIKING and continues:“We know water and what it takes to survive in water.

28 Mar 2011

Australian Ships Help in Japanese Recovery

Natchan World assists with Japanese recovery. Photo courtesy Incat

The tragic events in Japan have evoked a large scale international relief effort as the nation continues to deal with the enormity of the disaster. World-wide, maritime nations have been quick to respond and ships of all types have been deployed off the coast of Japan, providing humanitarian assistance to victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunami. Australian-built ships are among this number, playing their own part in the relief effort. Both Aomori on Honshu and Hakodate on Hokkaido, the traditional home ports for Incat-built 367.5-ft catamaran Natchan World, have been hectic.

12 Mar 2010

USNS Comfort Completes Haiti Mission

Photo courtesy U.S. Navy

Hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) has completed its mission departed the Joint Task Force-Haiti area of operations. Over the course of seven weeks, the ship's U.S military and civilian medical personnel treated 871 patients, receiving at the height of the recovery effort one patient every six to nine minutes. But now, thanks to more field hospitals ashore and fewer patients in need of specialized care, the ship has not had patients on board for more than a week. Comfort departed its homeport in Baltimore Jan.

23 Feb 2010

CMA CGM Service Resumes Through Haiti

Having been involved in the relief effort since the earthquake struck Haiti, the CMA CGM Group announced that it has resumed a regular service between Port-au-Prince and Kingston in Jamaica. On February 7th, a 516 teu capacity CMA CGM feeder vessel made a call to Port-au-Prince as an extension of its Europe-Caribbean Service (ECS). A second call was made on February 15th thanks to the 400-ft long floating dock that has recently been installed at the Haiti Terminal. On February 11th CMA CGM was also back in business with the reopening of the VITAL Agency, its Port-au-Prince representative. This regular service via Kingston, a major Caribbean transhipment hub, offers an alternative solution for all commodities coming from and going to Port-au-Prince.

04 Feb 2010

USS Ashland Loads Supplies for Haiti

Photo courtesy U.S. Navy

Amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) moored at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Feb. 1-2 to on load food, water and supplies for the Haiti relief effort. Ashland took on more than 200 pallets of supplies, including more than 35 cases of bottled water, approximately 10,000 meals-ready-to-eat (MREs), baby food, baby diapers, mail for service members in Haiti and essential maintenance parts for U.S. ships providing the relief efforts in the area. Ashland was on a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S.

01 Feb 2010

Royal Fleet Ship Deploys to Haiti

Photo courtesy Royal Navy, UK

The UK sent a Royal Fleet Auxiliary supply ship loaded with aid to help with the relief operation in Haiti, International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander has announced. The ship, RFA Largs Bay, was despatched at the request of the United Nations and sailed from the UK carrying relief supplies that will be needed by the people of Haiti in the weeks and months ahead. The ship will have the capacity to carry supplies provided by the Department for International Development and British and international NGOs (non-governmental organisations)…

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