Mediterranean Seas News

Turkey's maritime authority said on Thursday it would continue to block the passage of oil tankers that don't carry appropriate insurance letters, adding that insurance checks on ships in its waters were a "routine procedure".The logjam is creating growing unease in oil and tanker markets and comes as the G7 and European Union introduce a price cap on Russian oil.Millions of barrels of oil per day move south from Russian ports through Turkey's Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits into the Mediterranean.Here are key facts about the issue.Ships typically have protection & indemnity (P&I) insurance…

Egypt's Suez Canal recorded its highest monthly revenue to date in April, reaping $629 million in ship transit fees, the authority managing the waterway said, as traffic rebounded from the impact of the pandemic.The monthly revenue in April was 13.6% higher than a year ago, canal authority chairman Osama Rabie said in a statement.The total number of ships that passed through the 193 km (120 miles) waterway that links the Red and the Mediterranean seas increased by 6.3% from a year ago to 1,929 vessels.They carried cargoes weighing in total 114.5 million tonnes, the highest monthly net cumulati

A military diving team deactivated a stray naval mine off Turkey's northwest coast on Monday, Turkey's defense ministry said, the second such device to be defused in the area in days amid the war in Ukraine.NATO member Turkey borders the Black Sea, as does Russia and Ukraine, which Moscow invaded on February 24.Russia's main intelligence agency last week accused Ukraine of laying mines to protect ports and said several hundred of the explosives had broken off from cables and drifted away.

The John T. Essberger Group said it has signed final agreements with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard Dingheng Co. Ltd to build four 6,600 DWT stainless steel parcel chemical tankers with options for an additional four vessels.The IMO Type II chemical tankers will be Finnish/Swedish 1A ice class certified with dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion and the ability of using shore power connection during cargo operations. According to Essberger, the ships' optimized hull…

Egypt had previously closed four ports on the Red Sea and two on the Mediterranean due to bad weather, officials said on Sunday.Over the weekend, the ports of Suez and Zeitiyat were shut in Suez governorate, the Red Sea Ports Authority said. Adabiya and Ain Sokhna ports, in the same governorate, also closed, a source at the General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone said.Today, Egypt reopened four ports on the Red Sea on Monday, a day after they were closed due to bad weather conditions, authorities said.

Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic) announced that in partnership with its subsidiary, ITC Global, it has been awarded a four-year contract by TUI Cruises for connectivity services to two new-build cruise ships, Mein Schiff 1 and new Mein Schiff 2.The agreement establishes communication capabilities onboard the vessels serving guests and crew, enhancing the user experience during the cruise line's travels across international waters. Germany-based TUI Cruises is a joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. Headquartered in Hamburg, TUI Cruises voyages sail across the globe from the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas in Europe…

Luerssen, ThyssenKrupp and German Naval Yards have agreed to bid jointly for a German navy warship contract after competition authorities struck down an earlier bid, an industry source said. The contract had originally been worth 1.5 billion euros($1.68 billion) but it is unclear how much the government will ultimately pay. The contract for five corvettes, which had been due to be awarded without tender to a consortium of ThyssenKrupp and Luerssen, was struck down by the German cartel office after German Naval Yards complained. Under the deal, which must still be approved by the cartel office, German Naval Yards would win work worth 15 percent of total revenues from the contract. The German parliament's budget committee will decide on the contract on June 21, the source said.

Germany's federal cartel office upheld on Thursday a complaint brought by German Naval Yards against an order from the defence ministry for five new military corvettes valued at over 1.5 billion euros, after the ministry skipped an open procurement.   The ministry had argued that the quickest way to meet the navy's urgent military needs in the Baltic and Mediterranean seas would be to buy more of the ships already produced by a consortium including Luerssen Werft and ThyseenKrupp.   However, the cartel office agreed with German Naval Yards that the need for competition took priority, confirming reports on Wednesday by two German newspapers.   An appeal may be lodged within two weeks. (Reporting by Anneli Palmen; Writing by Madeline Chambers, Editing by Thomas Escritt)

Silverburn Shipping Group has taken delivery of two Stan Pontoon 8916 ICE vessels. Capable of taking on diverse heavy transport duties, these ice-classed vessels are robust enough to operate in all seasons.Built for stock, the pontoons left Rotterdam earlier this week on the client’s own transport after a three-week delivery time. The two 89-metre long Stan Pontoons were built at one of Damen’s partner yards in China – Nantong Yahua Shipbuilding.Damen built and transported the vessels to the Netherlands on a speculative basis. “We could offer Silverburn a very quick turnaround because we had these pontoons on stock,” says Damen Sales Manager United Kingdom Casper Vermeulen.

Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company has put into commissioning four dry cargo vessels that will operate beyond the pale of the Caspian Sea, reports AzerNews. An event to raise Azerbaijan`s state flag in the “Vagif”, “Sabir” “Huseyn Cavid” and “General Hazi Aslanov” vessels was held at the Tersan shipyard in Yalova region of Turkey on June 11. Caspian Shipping Company has also opened its office in Istanbul within the framework of the event. The number of dry cargo vessels of Caspian Shipping Company operating outside the Caspian Sea currently amounts to 11. New ships with the deadweight of 5,490 tons and breadth of 16.5 meters were constructed in Russia. The ships will be involved in the freight transportation operations in the Black and Mediterranean seas.

Shortly after the inauguration of the Saint Lawrence Seaway in 1959, and the growth of grain exports that followed, bulk shipper Fednav realized that incoming steel products offered ideal repositioning from Belgium, and thus was launched regular service FALLine. Steel is also transported from Germany, the U.K. and other countries, but Antwerp remained the epicenter of the activity. Located in the Scheldt estuary, Antwerp is the breakbulk port of choice due to its central position, its connections to the Rhine and its experienced stevedores. Initially, and for many years served as general Colbelfret and sales agent for the company. From the beginning, the company decided a Fednav office in Antwerp was required and in June 1966 the Federal Commerce & Navigation (Belgium) SA was incorporated.

Russian media reports that a Russian diesel-electric submarine operating submerged in the Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday launched Kalibr cruise missiles at  Islamic State terrorists’ (ISIL) vital facilities for first time in Syria. Agence France-Presse, citing Russian news agencies, reported that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the military had launched strikes in Syria for the first time from a submarine stationed in the Mediterranean. The 3M-54 Kalibr missiles were launched from the Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine “Rostov-on-Don”, Defense Minister told President Vladimir Putin. Russia’s warships based in the Caspian and Mediterranean seas launched similar missiles targeting ISIL Takfiri group (so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Levant) positions in late November.

Which will be the first 300 ships in the world to test and validate Sea Traffic Management (STM) with updated systems free-of-charge? As the shipping domain is takes steps in information technology, the STM Validation Project aims to demonstrate the STM concept in large-scale test beds in both the Nordic and Mediterranean Seas, encompassing around 300 vessels, 10 ports and five shore based service centres as well as using the European Maritime Simulator Network. The predecessor project, MONALISA 2.0, defined a need for validating STM in ports and on board ships supported by service centers on shore. 300 “STM-Systems” will be installed on board ships, developed and installed by ECDIS-manufacturers free-of-charge, and start running live in 2017.

Turkey launched the 140-meter amphibious ship "Bayraktar," the first of two vessels that are part of a domestic Landing Ship, Tank (LST) project, reports Local media. The two ships boast local design and construction and are aimed at meeting the operational requirements of the Turkish Naval Forces Command, according to the website of Anadolu Tersanesi, the company that constructed the ship. The Bayraktar is a fast amphibious vessel of upper-intermediate size with powerful armaments. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan underlined the refugee crisis faced in the Aegean and Mediterranean seas during his address given at the ceremony, and efforts of the Turkish naval forces to minimize the losses.

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has released the details of the construction and zoning plans for Kanal Istanbul project, which will be built on the European side of Istanbul and it will connect the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. The plans for the artificial sea-level waterway and a new town to be located on 95 acres will be issued by the Municipality. Building permits will be issued after approval by the Ministry of Environment and Town Planning. The ministry has "reserved" an area that is included within the borders of the districts of Avcılar, Bağcılar, Bakırköy, Arnavutköy, Başakşehir, Esenler, Eyüp and Küçükçekmece. The new town's population is expected to be around 500,000.

Robert S. Neyland, Ph.D., director of the Underwater Archeology Branch (UAB) of the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) in Washington, D.C., manages the people who protect more than 17,000 ship and aircraft wrecks around the world. The UAB houses a collection of more than 3,000 artifacts recovered from sunken military craft sites, and an artifact loan program of 6,000-plus items to national and international museums and other qualified facilities throughout the world. The branch itself was created in 1993 through the Department of Defense Legacy Resource Management Program funds. Robert Neyland, Ph.D., followed soon after. Neyland…

STX France SA received an order to build two luxury cruise ships from Viking Ocean Cruises, an affiliate of Viking River Cruises. The vessels will be delivered in spring 2014 and spring 2015, respectively, and will be part of Viking's new Ocean Cruise brand. An option for a third ship is being considered. The vessels will be operated primarily on the Mediterranean seas and be dedicated mainly to Viking's US, British and Australian customers. The vessels will measure 230 x 26.5, carrying 888 passengers in 444 cabins with a complement of 444 crew members.

By Lt. The crew of USS Alexandria (SSN 757) received the meritorious unit commendation award, Nov. 26, for their 2006 deployment with the Enterprise Strike Group to the 5th, 6th and 7th Fleet areas of operation. Alexandria, a Los Angeles-class nuclear powered submarine, was recognized for its achievements during its deployment from May to November 2006 in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Maritime Security Operations. According to Cmdr. Mike Bernacchi, Alexandria's commanding officer, the multi-mission capabilities of the Navy's modern submarines have been clearly demonstrated by Alexandria over the past few years.

By Journalist Seaman Apprentice James Kusher, Commander, Naval Surface Force U.S. The Spruance-class destroyer USS Deyo (DD 989) was decommissioned Nov. 6 during a ceremony conducted in its homeport at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. After being introduced by Capt. Thomas Abernathy, commander, Destroyer Squadron 22, the ship's final commanding officer, Cmdr. James A. Pelkofski, addressed the many families, friends, crewmembers, and former crewmembers who attended the solemn ceremony. "What do you say as the commanding officer during the decommissioning of a proud and great warship?" said Pelkofski. "Today is about the men and women who brilliantly manned Deyo for more than 23 years.

According to the International Hall of Fame Committee, the recipient of the 1999 Humanitarian Award must possess qualities such as contributions to the well being of a broad spectrum of the world population and a demonstration of a rapid response to world humanitarian efforts or appeals in times of emergency. George F. Lowman, chairman and CEO of Farrell Lines more than adequately exemplifies these qualities since becoming chairman of the board with the company in 1978, and chief executive officer isnce 1979. Active on both the East and West Coasts of Africa, Farrell Lines operates major runs of relief supplies in the Black, Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas. It is because of Lowman's generosity that this program continues to run successfully in bringing aid in times of crisis.

Palmali Group shipping company has put into operation a Suezmax tanker that replenished its overall fleet deadweight. The Company reported that the vessel was named in honor of national leader Heydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan. Its is length 274 m, width 50 m, sea-gauge 17 m. Heydar Aliyev is one of the series of Suezmax last generation built in South Korea. The tanker deal cost $96m. The vessel is designed for transportation of up to 165,000 tons of crude oil and heavy grades of petroleum products with unrestricted sailing area. The major advantage of the new tanker is its performance capability. Main routes start from ports of the Black and Mediterranean Seas running to ports of the United States and South-Eastern Asia. Launching of the next Suezmax tanker is scheduled for November 20.

ABS has given full design approval for the class of the compressed natural gas (CNG) carrier designed and developed by Canadian-based Sea NG Corporation. Sea NG is expected to award construction of three Coselle CNG carriers later this year. These first vessels are intended to service projects in the Caribbean or Mediterranean Seas. “We are pleased to bring innovation to the marine gas transportation market by offering a new ship-based gas delivery system that is safe, reliable and economic,” said Dave Stenning, President & CEO of Sea NG. The vessels’ design has been approved to the standards established in the ABS Guide for Vessels Intended to Carry Compressed Natural Gases in Bulk as well as applicable parts of the ABS Steel Vessel Rules.

Canadian-based Sea NG Corporation. is the first full class approval for a CNG carrier issued by the Bureau. later this year. the Caribbean or Mediterranean Seas. well as applicable parts of the ABS Steel Vessel Rules. Carriers. CNG. coiled into a carousel to store the high-pressure natural gas. transport and stacking of the Coselles within the ship. comprise approximately 10 miles of 6-inch diameter pipe. pipe in total). in a fully enclosed and inerted cargo house on the weather deck. vessels will feature a dual fuel propulsion system with bow thruster. manifold system for efficient loading and unloading of the natural gas.