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Eastern Europe News

17 Dec 2023

Esgian: Rigs on the Move in Asia and Europe

Source: OMV

This week Esgian’s Week 50 Rig Analytics Market Roundup notes developments in the semisub sector including that Shell has decided to exercise its option on Stena Don in the North Sea but not on Deepsea Bollsta in Namibia. Meanwhile, a new contract for the Transocean Barents will see it operate in the Black Sea, and jackup Shelf Drilling Perseverance will move to Vietnam.ContractsShelf Drilling has secured a contract award for the 400ft Shelf Drilling Perseverance jackup rig with PetroVietnam Domestic Exploration Production Operating Company Limited (PVEP POC).

18 Sep 2023

Shallow Water, No Problem: HGK Orders Gas Tanker with "Special Dimensions"

Technical drawing: a 3D ship’s drawing of the ‘GAS 96’. Source: HGK Shipping

Optimized to deal with shallow water levels, a diesel-electric drive system and an extra-wide design for the vessel are the main features of a gas tanker that HGK Shipping ordered from the Dutch shipyard, De Gerlien Van Tiem, on September 15, 2023. The latest addition to the fleet will enable the Duisburg, Germany inland shipping company to maximize cargo carriage even if water levels are low. “GAS 96” has been developed in close cooperation in line with the requirements of two large chemicals companies in the Netherlands and Germany.

18 Aug 2023

Poland's Orlen, Gaz-System Sign Gas Deal for Planned Floating Terminal

An LNG Tanker next to an FSRU unit - Image for illustration only  / Credit: KKF/AdobeStock

Poland's Orlen has signed a contract with state-owned pipeline operator Gaz-System for the regasification of up to 58 liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes per year at a planned floating gas terminal, the energy company said on Friday.Poland has turned to seaborne LNG as well as gas piped from Norway via Denmark and the Baltic Sea to replace supply from Russia.The planned terminal is to be built on the Baltic Sea near Gdansk by the end of 2027 with an initial regasification capacity…

17 Jul 2023

Why Does the Black Sea Grain Deal's Expiry Matter?

© Lukasz Z / Adobe Stock

A deal allowing Ukraine to export grain via the Black Sea will expire at the end of Monday after Russia said it will suspend its participation.The deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July, aimed to alleviate a global food crisis by allowing Ukrainian grain blocked by the Russia-Ukraine conflict to be exported safely.WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?Ukraine is a major producer of grains and oilseeds and the interruption to its exports at the outbreak of war pushed global food prices to record highs.

11 Jul 2023

What Happens if Black Sea Grain Corridor Deal is Not Extended?

© Ryzhkov Oleksandr / Adobe Stock

A deal allowing Ukraine to export grain via the Black Sea expires on July 17 and with Moscow saying it sees no grounds for an extension there are fears it may collapse.Why is it important?Ukraine is a major producer of grains and oilseeds and the interruption to its exports at the outbreak of war pushed global food prices to record highs. The current deal, agreed in July 2022 some five months after the war started, helped to bring down prices and ease a global food crisis.Ukraine grain has also played a direct role with 725…

09 May 2023

Why the EU is Restricting Grain Imports from Ukraine

The European Commission has announced restrictions on the imports of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Bulgaria until June 5.The move led to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria lifting unilateral import bans they had imposed citing the need to protect their farmers. Romania had not banned imports.Here are some of the issues:WHY IS UKRAINE EXPORTING THROUGH EASTERN EUROPE?Ukraine mainly exported agricultural products…

14 Apr 2023

What Happens if Russia Abandons UN-backed Grain Corridor?

The Kremlin has said the outlook is "not so great" for extending beyond May 18 a deal that allows the safe wartime export of grain from some Ukrainian Black Sea ports, raising concerns over what happens next with the U.N.-backed sea corridor.The deal has helped to tackle a global food crisis that U.N. officials said had been worsened by the most deadly war in Europe since World War Two.Reached in July last year, it created a protected transit corridor to enable exports to resume from three ports in Ukraine…

17 Oct 2022

Ballast Water Management is Reducing the Flow of Invasive Species into the Great Lakes

© madscinbca / Adobe Stock

Freshwater ecosystems are threatened by a host of environmental stressors from human activities. Among the most insidious and impactful of these is invasion by non-native species.Over the past two centuries, established populations of nearly 190 non-native species of invertebrates, fishes, plants and microbes have been discovered in the Great Lakes basin. They were introduced through several sources and pathways including canals, pet release, bait bucket dumping, aquaculture escapes…

31 Oct 2022

Cyber Attacks On the Rise at US Ports and Terminals

© Mariakray / Adobe Stock

Cyber attack attempts are becoming more common at U.S. ports and terminals, according to findings published this week by law firm Jones Walker LLP.The firm publicly released the findings of its 2022 Ports and Terminals Cybersecurity Survey, examining cybersecurity preparedness in U.S.-based ports and terminals. The report outlining the results of the survey is authored by four of the firm’s attorneys and the findings was presented by two of them, Jim Kearns and Andy Lee, during the Inland Rivers…

19 Aug 2022

France Favors Gas Terminals Over New Pipeline to Tackle Crisis

© Pixavril / Adobe Stock

A third gas pipeline between Spain and France would cost at least 3 billion euros ($3 billion) and take years to complete, making it a less attractive option to address Europe's supply worries than new terminals to receive fuel by boat, France's energy transition ministry said.The European Union is bracing for any further fall in gas flows from Russia, which had been the 27-nation bloc's biggest supplier before it invaded its neighbour Ukraine in February and trade was disrupted.German…

27 Jul 2022

Seafarer Shortage Stands in Way of Ukraine Grain Corridor

© Eugene / Adobe Stock

Finding enough seafarers willing to sail ships stuck inside Ukraine's ports is set to pose a major challenge to the proposed grains corridor designed to ease an international food crisis.Russia and Ukraine last week signed a deal to restart grain and fertilizer exports that have been blocked in the Black Sea and on Wednesday Turkey unveiled a center to coordinate the resumption of shipments.But some 80 ships remain blocked in Ukraine and the evacuation of most of their crew members means more mariners are needed in the region to get the cargoes moving.Henrik Jensen…

16 Jun 2022

Updates, Developments and Advances in Combat and Patrol Craft

SBI completed an order last December for 52 Coastal Interceptor Vessels for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (Photo: SAFE Boats)

My first visit in 2007 to the American Society of Naval Engineers’ (ASNE) Multi-Agency Craft Conference (MACC) was an eye-opener. Having built a naval architecture career with frigates, destroyers and other large naval and commercial ships, I was eager to learn of the smaller craft used by the U.S. Navy and other government and military bodies. As my flight into Norfolk, Va. descended over Chesapeake Bay, I gazed in amazement as a Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) raced toward Virginia Beach, slowed, glided up the beach and into its shore base.

02 Jun 2022

Deltamarin Designing Train Ferry for Fennorail

(Image: Deltamarin)

Finnish ship designer Deltamarin said it has signed a contract with Oy Fennorail Ltd for conceptual design of a train ferry capable of carrying both train and truck cargo.The so-called EUROCARRIER train ferry is being engineered to connect Finland to the European TEN-T railway networks and create a connection across Eastern Europe to Central Europe and the Mediterranean. Approximately 400,000 trucks per year, or almost 1,100 trucks per day travel on car ferries between Finland and Estonia.

31 May 2022

How Much Oil Does the EU Import from Russia?

© vchalup / Adobe Stock

The European Union has agreed to ban the bulk of imports of Russian crude and oil products in its latest round of sanctions following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.The ban on seaborne crude imports will be phased in over six months and for seaborne refined products over eight months. It excludes deliveries via the Druzhba oil pipeline which supplies refineries in Eastern Europe and eastern Germany.Yet many European buyers have voluntarily suspended purchases of Russian oil or announced plans to phase it out…

12 May 2022

Boskalis Raises Full-Year Core Profit Guidance

Boskalis heavy transportation vessel carrying an FPSO - Image Credit: Boskalis

Dutch dredging and marine services firm Boskalis raised its full-year core profit forecast on Thursday, pointing to a well-filled order book and favorable market outlook in the short and medium-term.Boskalis, which also offers services and contracting for the oil and gas sector and offshore wind industry, now expects its 2022 earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to exceed the 462 million euros ($482.33 million) posted in 2021, against a previous estimate of matching it."The market outlook appears favorable for the short and medium term…

10 Mar 2022

HAL Plans to Make Takeover Offer for Boskalis and Take It Private

Boskalis heavy transportation vessel carrying an FPSO - Image Credit; Boskalis

HAL Holding said Thursday it intended to launch an offer for the Dutch marine services and dredging giant Boskalis' all issued and outstanding ordinary shares of Boskalis, at €32.50 per share.HAL, which currently holds 46.2% of the issued Boskalis shares, said it supported Boskalis’ current strategy, and that it has no intention to change its management or governance, "and is committed to the long-term interests of Boskalis and its stakeholders, including its employees."The company…

24 Jan 2022

Russian Navy Starts Baltic Sea Drills

(Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense)

Twenty Russian navy vessels set out into the Baltic Sea on Monday for drills, the RIA news agency reported, amid heightened tensions between Moscow and the West over Ukraine and reports that the United States might send extra troops to the region.The ships will perform exercises focused on naval and anti-aircraft defense, RIA quoted the Baltic Navy as saying.Russia has said it would “respond appropriately” if Washington boosts troop numbers in Eastern Europe, after the New York Times reported that the White House was considering such a move.(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Writing by Olzhas A

30 Dec 2021

2022 & Beyond: Will the Container Carrier Debacle Ever End?

Copyright: Idanupong/AdobeStock

When the global supply chain runs smoothly, it’s like a well-choreographed dance. Everything comes together elegantly and effortlessly. But when someone misses a step, the show can quickly turn into a disaster. And that’s what’s currently unfolding before our eyes, headline after headline.Those of us in the supply chain industry know it takes a Herculean effort to keep the wheels of commerce turning without so much as a squeak or rattle. And it’s going to take just that to get…

16 Jun 2020

COVID-19 Measures Prove Costly for Crewing Sector

(Photo: Danica Crewing Services)

Measures being taken by ship operators in an effort to to ensure the safety of seafarers around the globe and the trade of vital food and supplies amid COVID-19 are proving costly as well as tricky warns a crew specialist.Henrik Jensen of Danica Crewing Services reports that they recently placed a crew of 19 of Ukrainian and Filipino nationality on to a vessel and the necessary pandemic-related procedures cost some $10,000, which the ship owner had to cover.The charges included COVID-19 PCR tests of all crew members…

11 Aug 2020

Uber Boat Launches in London

(Photo: Uber Boat by Thames Clippers)

Uber is taking to the water in London. Earlier this month the international ride-hailing company marked the start of a partnership with water taxi operator Thames Clippers to provide its services on the River Thames.The first vessel donning Uber Boat by Thames Clippers branding set sail on August 3 as part of a fleet of 20 passenger vessels departing from 23 piers across London from Putney in the west to Woolwich Royal Arsenal in the east.Uber is rolling out the service on its app…

16 Jul 2020

BSM Opens Liquid Cargo Simulator Facility

(Photo: BSM)

Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) said it has launched a new liquid cargo training facility at its maritime training center in Cyprus as part of a wider boost to LNG training across the whole company, reflecting increasing industry demand and more LNG vessels entering the market.The new Liquid Cargo Simulator (LCS) has been designed and developed by BSM’s inhouse technical team and uses GTT Training software. It offers realistic training on a wide range of vessel types: LNG…

16 Jul 2021

Biden, Merkel Fail to Settle Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Dispute

File photo: President Joe Biden meets for a brief pull-aside meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during the G7 Summit at the Carbis Bay Hotel and Estate on Saturday, June 12, 2021, in St. Ives, Cornwall, England. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)

President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel failed on Thursday to settle their dispute over Russia's Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline but said they agreed that Moscow must not be allowed to use energy as a weapon to coerce its neighbors."Good friends can disagree," Biden told reporters after two meetings with Merkel at the White House, adding that both leaders had asked their teams to look at practical measures they could take together if Russia's actions posed a…

22 Jul 2021

U.S. and Germany Strike Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Deal

Russian pipe-laying vessel Akademik Cherskiy used for the construction of the Nord Stream 2 - Credit: Elena Krivorotova/AdobeStock

The United States and Germany on Wednesday unveiled an agreement on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline under which Berlin pledged to respond to any attempt by Russia to use energy as a weapon against Ukraine and other Central and Eastern European countries.The pact aims to mitigate what critics see as the strategic dangers of the $11 billion pipeline, now 98% complete, being built under the Baltic Sea to carry gas from Russia’s Arctic region to Germany.U.S. officials have opposed the pipeline…