Eastern Mediterranean Sea News

Oil and gas company Energean, working to develop its Karish field offshore Israel, expects that the FPSO being built for the eastern Mediterranean Sea project will set sail from Singapore in the summer of 2021. The London-listed company shared the info as part of its first-half results presentation on Thursday.The FPSO, called Energean Power, is currently in Singapore where the China-built hull is being fitted with topside modules. The first module was installed on August 24.Mathios Rigas…

Arkas Bunkering have signed a protocol with Japan-based Sumitomo Corporation for the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as bunker fuel in Turkish and nearby seas. As environmentally-friendly buildings, vessels and fuels have become more popular than ever, new applications acting as reminders for both states and civil initiatives of their environmental responsibilities continue to emerge. With International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) global sulphur cap set to enter into force in 2020, the maximum amount of sulphur allowed to be contained in bunker fuel will be reduced worldwide. In this regard, Arkas Bunkering, Turkey’s top bunker supplier for three consecutive years according to Energy Market Regulatory Authority data…

Turkey has sent two ships and a submarine to monitor a drilling vessel in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the military said on Thursday, in a move likely to increase tension with Cyprus after reunification talks failed last week. The drilling work, a contractual obligation between Cyprus and France's Total, comes a week after the collapse of talks to reunify the divided island nation, split between ethnic Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Ankara has said it will take measures against Cyprus for engaging in gas and oil exploration around the island. It says that hydrocarbon resources in the waters around the divided island should belong to both sides. The military said it had deployed the frigates and a submarine to the eastern Mediterranean to "guarantee the security of oil transportation".

The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWBCSG) commenced strike missions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) from the eastern Mediterranean Sea, Feb. 13. Carrier strike groups demonstrate the mobility, flexibility and power projection capability of the Navy's globally-deployed force - anytime, anywhere. The GHWBCSG operations in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in support of OIR demonstrate the capability of the U.S. Navy to conduct precision strikes on Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) targets from multiple theaters, highlighting the flexibility of the Navy's globally-deployed force. "The precision strike operations…

CMA CGM has announced the new upgraded service offer NC LEVANT, which directly links the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon) and Northern Europe (Belgium, England, Germany), via Malta, Spain and Italy. The NC Levant service will now provide extended port coverage with a new export call in Tanger Med towards the Levant Sea, and a new import call in Algeciras towards Northern Europe. Transit times offered will be among the best on the market. The upgraded service will also cover the significant ports in the region, through our extensive feeder available in Malta, Beirut, Port Said and Algeciras. This global service will also offer transshipment opportunities towards worldwide markets, thanks to connections with other Group’s services in Malta, Tanger Med and Algeciras.

Van Oord has been awarded two contracts by international contractor Subsea 7. The assignments include the construction of a landfall and the execution of subsea rock installation works in Egypt. The projects are part of the West Nile Delta project, which comprises the development of a series of gas fields, located 65 km off the northern coast of Egypt. Final client is oil and gas company BP. Preparations on site have already started. The landfall scope of work consists of the installation of a cofferdam, trenching and pipe pull activities and will be executed in 2017. The landfall location is at the Burrulus terminal near Idku, 50 km from Alexandria. Van Oord will deploy a trailing suction hopper dredger, backhoe dredger and 600 tonnes winch.

A Russian warship carried out aggressive and erratic maneuvers close to a U.S. Navy ship in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the second such Cold War-style incident there in a matter of weeks, the U.S. military said on Saturday. The U.S. European Command said the Russian frigate, Yaroslav Mudry, came unnecessarily close to the guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto on June 30 and maneuvered in its wake. In a statement, EUCOM said the U.S. ship had not been threatened and it maintained course and speed. There have been several similar incidents - reminiscent of Cold War confrontations between the rival superpowers - at sea and in the air in recent months, with the U.S. and Russian militaries accusing each other of dangerous approaches in international waters and airspace. U.S.

A Russian warship carried out "unprofessional" maritime operations in close proximity to a U.S. Navy ship in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, a U.S. Defense official said on Friday. This is the second time the same Russian vessel has come within close proximity of a U.S. Navy ship this month. On June 17, the Yaroslav Mudryy came within 315 yards (288 meters) of the USS Gravely, an incident U.S. officials called "unsafe and unprofessional," but which the Russian Defense Ministry disputed. Recent months have seen a number of similar Cold War-style incidents at sea and in the air, with each country's military accusing the other of dangerous approaches in international waters and airspace. The U.S.

Operational Tunnel thrusters are necessary maneuvering tools when it comes to operations in the container business. With vessels entering and departing ports at least 4 times per week, it is easy to rack up high tug and support vessel costs if these essential pieces of equipment are not in service. Additionally, as this market remains very competitive, operators are reluctant to take their assets out of service for repairs. This is where the Subsea Solutions Alliance is called upon to make critical repairs.

Transocean Inc. has been awarded contracts for two High-Specification drillships, the Deepwater Millennium and the Deepwater Expedition, for drilling operations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and offshore Egypt, respectively. The Deepwater Millennium, a Fifth-Generation, dynamically positioned drillship, has been awarded a two-year contract by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation for drilling operations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Revenues of approximately $209 million could be generated over the two-year contract. The Deepwater Expedition, also a Fifth-Generation, dynamically positioned drillship, has been awarded a three-well, estimated 90-day contract plus a 30-day option well from a Shell subsidiary for drilling operations offshore Egypt in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

The IMO posted the report of the coordination meeting on the response to the marine pollution incident in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, held in Piraeus, Greece on 17 August. It also posted the International Assistance Action Plan for responding to the spill. The objective of the plan is to provide immediate advice and technical assistance to the Government of Lebanon; assess the type of assistance and resources needed to respond to the spill; and identify and mobilize the financial and in-kind available assistance and contributions needed to implement the plan. Source: HK Law

MarAd issued an advisory stating that a NATO Shipping Center in support of merchant shipping in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea has been established in Northwood, UK. According to MarAd, the NATO Shipping Center (NSC) in Northwood will continue to support NATO Naval forces deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean and has recently activated the NSC due to the recent incidents between Israel and Hezbollah. The NSC was activated to provide advice and guidance to NATO nation merchant ships. The purpose of activating the NSC is to collect and distribute information relevant for the safe passage of vessels in the area off the coast of Lebanon and the Eastern Mediterranean. NSC will compile a situational plot and contribute this information to the NATO Military Commander in the area.

With the worsening conflagration in Lebanon-Israel and the resulting consequences for maritime traffic, ship operators are bracing themselves for a hike in war risk insurance premiums for vessels that transit the Eastern Mediterranean. The 12-member Europe Mediterranean Trade Agreement that includes A.P. Moller-Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Company and CMA CGM issued a statement: "In the event that extra costs do arise for war risk insurance, the lines wish to inform their customers that they will have no option but to pass these on to customers by way of a war risk surcharge with immediate effect.” According to Gulf News, a number of Flag-states have also issued directives…

The US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) issued a Memorandum stating, among other things, that Israeli naval ships have established a closure area in the eastern Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Lebanon (between 34-05N and 33-06N and between 034-00E and the coastline). Ships will not be allowed to enter or exit this area. Note: Due to armed conflict in this area, it is recommended that all commercial vessels give this vicinity a wide berth. Source: HK Law

The U.S. National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) issued a Special Advisory stating that coalition naval forces are conducting military operations in waters of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Gulf. All vessels in these waters are urged to keep a safe distance away from military vessels and to clearly identify themselves so as to avoid the inadvertent use of force. Note use of the term military operations rather than military exercises. Source: HK Law