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Sea Voyages News

04 Mar 2024

War Insurers Shrug off Rubymar Sinking in Red Sea, Rates Stable

On March 2 at approximately 2:15 a.m. (Sanaa time), Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, UK-owned bulk carrier, sank in the Red Sea after being struck by an Iranian-backed Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile on Feb. 18. The ship had been slowly taking on water since the attack. (Photo: U.S. Central Command)

The cost of war risk insurance through the Red Sea remained stable on Monday despite the sinking of the Rubymar cargo ship as underwriters had already factored in the casualty after it was first hit by a missile last month, industry sources said.The cost of insuring a seven-day voyage through the Red Sea has risen by hundreds of thousands of dollars since Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis began attacking shipping in the area in November in a show of solidarity with Palestinians in…

13 Feb 2024

Carnival Orders Another Cruise Ship from Meyer Werft

(Photo: Meyer Werft)

German shipbuilder Meyer Werft reports it has secured an order from U.S.-based Carnival Corporation for the construction of a new cruise ship for Carnival Cruise Line. The newbuild order is the first placed by Carnival Corporation in five years.Slated for delivery in 2027, the Excel-class ship will be a sister vessel to the 183,200 GT Carnival Jubilee, which was handed over at the end of 2023."Our Excel-class ships have been a tremendous addition to the Carnival fleet and proven very popular with our guests," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

07 Feb 2024

US, UK Ship Investors Hit by Soaring Red Sea Insurance

© sandsun / Adobe Stock

War underwriters have raised the premiums they charge to U.S., British and Israeli firms by as high as 50% for ships transiting the Red Sea and some providers are avoiding such business due to targeting of the vessels by Yemen's Houthis, sources said.Attacks by the Iran-aligned Houthis since November have slowed trade between Asia and Europe and alarmed major powers. The Houthis say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel's war against Hamas militants in Gaza…

01 Feb 2024

Russian Oil Flows Through Red Sea Face Lower Risks

© Carabay / Adobe Stock

Tankers carrying Russian oil have continued sailing through the Red Sea largely uninterrupted by Houthi attacks on shipping and face lower risks than competitors, according to shipping executives, analysts and flows data.Russia has become more dependent on trade through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea since it invaded Ukraine, which led to Europe imposing sanctions on Russian imports and forced Moscow to export most of its crude to China and India. Before the war, Russia exported…

29 Jan 2024

Trafigura Assesses Red Sea Risks after Tanker Attack by Houthis

(Credit: Indian Navy)

Commodities trader Trafigura said on Saturday it was assessing the security risks of further Red Sea voyages after firefighters put out a blaze on a tanker attacked by Yemen's Houthi group a day earlier.The U.S. military said a U.S. Navy ship and other vessels provided assistance after the Marlin Luanda was hit by a Houthi anti-ship missile."No further vessels operating on behalf of Trafigura are currently transiting the Gulf of Aden and we continue to assess carefully the risks involved in any voyage…

10 Jan 2024

Egypt's PM, Maersk Officials Discuss Developments in Red Sea

© Val Traveller / Adobe Stock

Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly discussed developments in the Red Sea with officials from shipping group Maersk in a video conference and ways to enhance cooperation, a statement from the Egyptian cabinet said on Wednesday.Madbouly stressed the centrality of the security and safety of maritime navigation in the Red Sea to Egypt's national security in light of its close connection to the Suez Canal, which is used by roughly one-third of global container ship cargo, the statement added.Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen have stepped up attacks on vessels in the Red Sea since Novemb

21 Dec 2023

Shipping Industry in the Dark Over US-led Red Sea Navy Force

(Photo: Samantha Alaman / U.S. Navy)

Shipping companies remain in the dark over a new international navy coalition being assembled by the United States to combat attacks in the Red Sea, with many vessels continuing to avoid the area or cancelling contracts, sources said on Wednesday.The sources, who include shipping and maritime security officials, say few practical details are known about the initiative launched on Tuesday by Washington or whether it will directly engage in the event of further armed attacks at sea.Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen have since Nov.

04 Dec 2023

War Risk Insurance Rates Edge Up After Surge in Red Sea Ship Attacks

© momentscatcher / Adobe Stock

War risk insurance premiums edged up for Red Sea voyages after three vessels were attacked in the area on Sunday and fears grow over worsening perils for commercial shipping, maritime and insurance sources said on Monday.The incidents are the latest in a series of attacks in Middle Eastern waters since a brutal war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas broke out on Oct. 7.The three commercial vessels came under attack in international waters in the southern Red Sea, the U.S.

20 Jun 2023

Energy Transition: What is an Offshore Vessel Operator to Do?

Copyright AdobeStock/Imladris

The energy transition is moving ahead amid recovery in offshore oil & gas and growth in offshore wind, leaving vessel owners that serve these markets with big questions about energy carrier and energy converter selection for their newbuilds.What is driving the change?The foundations of energy transition in the offshore and marine segment can be found at global, regional, national and local levels:At a global level, International Maritime Organization (IMO) measures cover vessel energy efficiency (for vessels over 400 gross tonnes) and carbon intensity (for vessels over 5…

25 Jul 2022

17 dead after boat carrying migrants capsizes in The Bahamas

Seventeen people died after a boat carrying dozens of Haitian migrants capsized off the coast of The Bahamas, authorities said on Sunday, as more Haitians attempt to reach the United States to flee gang violence and poverty at home.Rescue teams recovered the bodies of 17 people, including an infant, and 25 people were rescued, Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis told a news conference. Davis said authorities believe they were on a speedboat heading for Miami."It is believed that the vessel capsized in rough seas," he said.Up to 60 people may have been on board and more people were presumed missing, Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander said.Bahamian authorities said that two people were taken into custody, both from Bahamas, over the suspected human smuggling operation.

14 Jul 2021

EU to Add Shipping to Its Carbon Trading Market

© Martin Bergsma / Adobe Stock

Shipping will be included in Europe’s emissions trading system (ETS) and costs for polluters are set to rise under Brussels’ plans to meet the European Union’s climate targets, the European Commission said on Wednesday.The EU ETS, which forces emitters to pay for each tonne of carbon dioxide they generate, is the keystone of an EU drive to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% from 1990 levels by 2030.Manufacturers, power firms and airlines operating flights inside Europe are already covered by the scheme but…

14 Apr 2021

New Zealand to End Seaborne Livestock Exports

New Zealand said on Wednesday it will stop the export of livestock by sea following a transition period of up to two years, citing animal welfare concerns for a decision that will affect major trading partners including Australia and China.The ban was welcomed by animal welfare groups, but the peak farming industry body said it was caught by surprise and was unaware of any breaches of standards.Live exports by sea represent about 0.2% of New Zealand’s primary sector exports revenue since 2015 has averaged around NZ$60 million ($42.32 million) per year from 2015 to 2019. New Zealand exported 113,285 cattle by sea last year.“We have not been able to guarantee the safety of these animals at sea and that’s an unacceptable risk for New Zealand…

06 Apr 2021

Damen Expands Hopper Dredger Portfolio

(Image: Damen)

Shipbuilding group Damen said it has renewed and expanded its lineup of trailing suction hopper dredgers (TSHD), now offering a range covering hopper volumes from 650 m3 to 5,000 m3. The updated portfolio includes both hopper dredgers for port maintenance and multi-purpose dredgers.All designs have a number of core values in common. Damen said the starting point for the designs were that the dredger be both practical in operation and in maintenance, and have a sustainable future-proof design.

17 Dec 2020

Ammonia Fuel Cells for Deep-Sea Shipping: A Key Piece of the Zero-emissions Puzzle

Image: NCE Maritime CleanTech

Interest in ammonia-powered fuel cells for the maritime sector is growing, but stakeholders have been hesitant to commit to investments in large-scale systems. Now the ShipFC project is aiming to secure a place for ammonia in the future of deep-sea shipping.The project will equip the offshore supply vessel Viking Energy, owned and operated by Eidesvik and on contract to energy major Equinor, with a 2-megawatt (MW) ammonia fuel cell, allowing it to operate for at least 3,000 hours annually on clean fuel.

12 Dec 2020

Via Kaizen Project Aims to Deliver AI-powered Ship Ops Support System

Photo: Lean Marine/Via Kaizen Project

A group of Swedish technology entrepreneurs and academics joined forces to accelerate the research and development of an AI-based, semi-autonomous system for planning and executing more energy efficient sea voyages.Leading the effort is Lean Marine, aiming to deliver a ground-breaking R&D project to accelerate the tech development, realization, and adoption of AI-powered ship operation support technology by ship crew and management. The Via Kaizen project is funded by the Swedish Transport Administration…

29 Nov 2019

Mitsubishi Christens Cargo-Passenger Ship

Yokohama-based Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co has launched a cargo-passenger ship currently under construction for Tokai Kisen Co., Ltd.The new vessel will inherit the name Salvia Maru, replacing the second ship bearing the name that is currently operated by the company.The formal christening was conducted by Tokai Kisen President Junichi Yamazaki, with a ceremonial rope cutting by the fourth Tokai Kisen Mascot Girl, Natsumi Koike.The handover is scheduled for June 2020 upon completion of rigging work, after which the vessel will enter service on a regular route connecting Tokyo with the Tokyo Islands of Oshima, Toshima, Niijima, Shikineshima…

13 Mar 2018

UKHO releases new edition of ADMIRALTY Ocean Passages

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has published a new edition of ADMIRALTY Ocean Passages for the World (NP136). First published in 1895, this publication is designed to support mariners in the planning of deep sea voyages along major trade routes, with details of weather, currents, ice hazards and other environmental features that may be met in transit. The UKHO has completely changed the way that routes are represented in response to user feedback, introducing route diagrams alongside tabulated waypoint and route data to help mariners find key information quickly. Following in-depth analysis of AIS tracking data, the UKHO has also identified the world’s busiest trade routes for inclusion in the new edition…

07 Jan 2017

USCG Repatriates 150 Cuban Migrants

The Coast Guard repatriated 150 Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, since Dec. 30. The Coast Guard Cutter Charles Sexton crew repatriated 74 Cuban migrants Tuesday, and the Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo repatriated 76 Cuban migrants Friday. These repatriations are a result of 12 separate at-sea migrant interdictions in the South Florida Straits. In each instance, the Coast Guard helped secure the U.S. border and prevented these sea voyages from ending in tragedy. “We discourage anyone from taking to the sea and attempting to reach U.S. soil illegally – they are risking their lives with very little chance of success,” said Capt. Mark Gordon, chief of enforcement for the Coast Guard 7th District.

10 Dec 2016

USCG Repatriates 63 Cuban Migrants

The Coast Guard repatriated 63 Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, since Dec. The Coast Guard Cutter Paul Clark crew repatriated six Cuban migrants Monday and another 57 Cuban migrants Friday. These repatriations are a result of five separate at-sea migrant interdictions in the South Florida Straits. In each instance, the Coast Guard helped secure the U.S. border and prevented these sea voyages from ending in tragedy. “We discourage anyone from taking to the sea and attempting to reach U.S. soil illegally – they are risking their lives with very little chance of success,” said Capt. Mark Gordon, chief of enforcement for the Coast Guard 7th District. Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention. Since Oct.

04 Dec 2016

Coast Guard Repatriate 38 Cuban Migrants

The Coast Guard Cutter Charles David Jr. repatriated 38 Cuban migrants Thursday to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba. These repatriations are a result of three separate at-sea migrant interdictions in the South Florida Straits. In each instance, the Coast Guard helped secure the U.S. border and prevented these sea voyages from ending in tragedy. “We discourage anyone from taking to the sea and attempting to reach U.S. soil illegally – they are risking their lives with very little chance of success,” said Capt. Mark Gordon, chief of enforcement for the Coast Guard 7th District. “Navigating the Florida Straits can be extremely dangerous for the unprepared on illegal voyages and often leads to injury or death. Coast Guard missions and operations in the Southeast remain unchanged.

18 Jan 2016

What is the Scrapping Potential of the Crude Fleet?

Tanker owners are currently doing fairly well, certainly compared to their colleagues in the dry bulk market, says a reserach report from Poten & Partners. However, history shows that such markets do not last forever and when the downturn comes, it is important that the supply side can respond quickly. The tanker orderbook is not excessively large in historical terms but still requires a sizable demand increase to maintain a balanced market in the coming years. Scrapping is the other variable that influences the supply side of the equation and the question is: What is the potential for scrapping to help balance the market in the coming years?

09 Feb 2016

Containers to Be Weighed Before Departure

Photo: Danish Maritime Authority

In a new measure aiming to minimize the number of shipping accidents, packed containers intended to be carried on international sea voyages must be weighed before being loaded, starting July 1, 2016. In recent years, there has been a number of accidents where large ships have lost containers at sea and where the ship's hull has been extensively damaged due to overload. The main reason for these incidents was likely incorrect container weight data. Therefore, it has been decided internationally that as of July 1, 2016 the so-called "verified weight" of all packed containers must be established.

07 Jun 2016

EMC Unveils New Suite of Global Marine VSAT Services

EMC today announced a new global Ku-band VSAT package of connectivity and content for ships at sea, optimized for the next-generation high-throughput satellite (HTS) networks that are now being deployed. “Designed with crew welfare as a top priority, the new EMC VSAT platform offers a combination of services and capabilities never before available from a single marine VSAT supplier,” said Gilles Gillesen, president of EMC’s commercial shipping business unit. EMC’s patented SpeedNet technology solves the age-old problem of latency in web access at sea. Using a proprietary intelligent protocol and global backbone, SpeedNet predictively fetches, compresses and pushes multiple layers of websites at once to local servers.