Shelton News

Richard Murphy has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of BPA Worldwide, a leading global assurance provider of media, technology, events, and sustainability compliance. He replaces Glenn Hansen, who has announced his intent to retire in June 2023. In the interim, Hansen has been named Executive Strategic Advisor to focus on BPA iCompli Sustainability and Event Audit practices.Murphy brings 30 years of experience with BPA to this position. He was formerly Executive Vice President…

U.S. crude oil shipments to China will rise sharply in coming weeks, U.S. traders and shipbrokers and Chinese importers said, as the world’s top economies gear up to review a January deal after a prolonged trade war.Chinese state-owned oil firms have tentatively booked tankers to carry at least 20 million barrels of U.S. crude for August and September, the people said, moves that may ease U.S. concerns that China’s purchases are trending well short of purchase commitments under the Phase 1 of the trade deal.China had emerged as a top U.S.

U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administrator Rear Adm. Mark Buzby joined elected officials and leadership from Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) and SSA Marine on Nov. 22 to break ground on a new state-of-the-art international container terminal at JAXPORT’s Blount Island Marine Terminal.The SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal is an expansion of SSA’s current leasehold at Blount Island and includes $238.7 million in infrastructure and equipment upgrades. Operations will continue throughout the redevelopment, which is expected to be complete in 2023—coinciding with the completion of the federal project to deepen the Jacksonville shipping channel to 47 feet.

The provider of offshore mooring and subsea services, Delmar Systems said it completed an eight-line disconnect of the mooring system on Seadrill’s West Phoenix semi-submersible drilling rig on the UK Continental Shelf, using its RAR Plus Technology.The rig disconnection was performed in two and a half hours without needing anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel assistance. The West Phoenix is currently under contract with Equinor for a three well campaign, all of which are using Delmar’s Releasable Anchor Mooring System.Delmar’s RAR Plus is the first ever dual-release action (acoustic and mechanical) rig anchor release. It allows for immediate rig transit after release with the RAR Plus’ nested in their trigger sleeves against the rig fairlead.

Oil markets are bracing for a reshuffle of global trade flows as China threatens to impose tit-for-tat tariffs on imports of U.S. energy products, including crude.China, which has bought an average 330,000 barrels per day (bpd) of U.S. crude oil this year, is threatening to place a 25 percent tariff on various U.S. commodity exports, including crude oil, although it is so far unclear when such a measure would come in place.The decision came in response to U.S. President Donald…

Oil prices jumped as much as 6 percent on Wednesday after OPEC sources said the group has reached a deal to limit crude output at its policy meeting in November, a source for the producer group said. Brent crude was up $2.76, or 6 percent, at $48.73 a barrel by 2:28 p.m. EDT (1820 GMT), after reaching a more than two-week high of $48.96. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose by $2.35, or 5.4 percent, to $47.02, peaking at $47.45, its highest since Sept 8. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has agreed to limit production to 32.5 million barrels per day, OPEC sources said after talks held by the group on the sidelines of the Sept. 26-28 International Energy Forum in Algiers. The latest production figure for the group is 33.24 million bpd.

As the maritime industry continues to evolve, the need for developing well-trained, knowledgeable and tech-savvy port leaders of the future has never been greater. Last April, the Port of Los Angeles announced its first-ever Fellows Program, an educational initiative focused on developing the next generation of maritime and port leadership. The one-year, on-the-job experience for graduate students officially kicked off in June with the selection of three fellows from some of the region’s top universities. “What students learn from a book or in their classes is just one part of the equation,” said Doane Liu, deputy executive director at the Port of Los Angeles.

Oil prices surged 4 percent on Wednesday, with Brent settling above the psychological $50 a barrel mark, after a larger-than-expected drawdown in U.S. crude inventories. It was a second straight day of gains for oil, which has risen nearly 8 percent since Monday's settlement to recover almost all of what it lost after Britain's shock vote to exit the European Union. Fading concerns over the so-called Brexit, potential for an oil workers' strike in Norway and a crisis in Venezuela's energy sector were among factors supporting Wednesday's rally. While spot contracts in Brent and U.S. crude surged, the premium for longer-dated oil spiked too as traders bet crude in storage will fetch better prices in coming months. The U.S.

Crude oil prices rose about 3 percent on Tuesday on the back of a rally in the gasoline market and as a tumbling dollar boosted commodities denominated in the greenback after bets the Federal Reserve will hold U.S. interest rates where they are. U.S. gasoline futures rallied more than 3 percent to their highest since August on Tuesday, boosting refinery margins, after a series of Gulf Coast refinery unit outages, buying from Venezuela and a reported drop in New York inventories. "I think the market has become more optimistic on oil products," said Scott Shelton, broker and commodities specialist with ICAP in Durham, North California. Analysts polled by Reuters expect the U.S.

Oil prices extended their freefall on Friday, flirting with 11-year lows, after the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned that global oversupply of crude could worsen next year. Brent and U.S. crude's West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures fell as much as 5 percent on the day and 12 percent on the week as mild pre-winter weather and a plummeting U.S. stock market added to the toll on oil prices. Oil traders and analysts alike have been perplexed by oil's decline since the Dec. 4 meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries which all but abandoned price support for crude by removing OPEC's production ceiling in an oversupplied market. "It's very tough to find a cause to get bullish here," said Peter Donovan, broker at Liquidity Energy in New York.

U.S. crude oil prices on Friday dove below $40 a barrel for the first time since the 2009 financial crisis, notching their longest weekly losing streak in 29 years after a further rise in U.S. drilling and a drop in Chinese manufacturing. Oil prices pushed briefly below the $40-pivot mark following weekly data that showed U.S. energy firms added two oil drilling rigs last week, the fifth increase in a row. The rise in rigs, which is emerging now after a second quarter lull in prices, is adding to concerns U.S. shale production is proving slow to respond to falling prices, prolonging a global glut. "Everyone is still looking at it saying 'Wow, you still don't have production coming down,'" said Tariq Zahir, founder at Tyche Capital in Laurel Hollow, New York.

The Coast Guard is urging mariners and the coastal community to take precautions in preparation of two storms expected to impact the Northeast Wednesday and Thursday. The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood advisory in anticipation of storm surges and locally heavy rainfall. The pair of storms are expected to bring elevated sea-state and wind gusts up to 30 knots. Because of higher-than-normal tides, owners of small boats, kayaks and other paddle craft are urged to properly secure them. "Usually after these kind of storms pass, we get many calls about adrift boats," said Petty Officer 1st Class Shelton Schafer, the operations unit coordinator at the 1st Coast Guard District Command Center in Boston, Mass.

Underwriters, brokers, claims personnel and key industry suppliers converged on the Intercontinental Hotel in Buckhead Atlanta last week for the 83rd Annual Meeting of the Inland Marine Underwriters Association(IMUA). With more than 275 in attendance, the meeting officially got underway with the election of a new slate of officers. Peter Opinante, Swiss Re America, who has served as the Association’s Chairman for the past year, was formerly inaugurated for a second term. Also elected to serve a second term were Deputy Chairperson Michelle Hoehn…

Algae-X International has announced its agreement with Nordic Tugs - the Ed Shelton designed and manufactured boats - to integrate the ALGAE-X's Fuel Decontamination Technology into the fuel systems of their diesel powered vessels. Shelton is incorporating ALGAE-X technology with traditional filtration to fulfill his goal of providing owners of Nordic Tugs with maximum reliability systems. ALGAE-X provides Optimal Fuel Quality and Peak Engine Performance and prevents fuel filter clogging and engine failure.

Algae-X International has announced its agreement with Nordic Tugs, to integrate the Algae-X Fuel Decontamination Technology into the fuel systems of the company's diesel-powered vessels. Mr. Shelton is incorporating Algae-X technology with traditional filtration to fulfill his goal of providing owners of Nordic Tugs with maximum reliability systems. Algae-X provides Optimal Fuel Quality and Peak Engine Performance and prevents fuel filter clogging and engine failure. Algae-X has also been made available to current owners of Nordic Tugs through meetings at their annual rendevous which was held this year at Sanibel Island, Fla., and at the West Marine-sponsored TrawlerFest in Melbourne…

Adm. ship New Orleans on Saturday at Northrop Grumman Corporation’s New Orleans shipyard. Mrs. Shelton, wife of U.S. Army Gen. presence of approximately 1,000 guests. Principal speaker, U.S. Navy Adm. the tactics of terror. and honors one of the world's largest ports. Navy Cmdr. officer. homeported in San Diego. Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco. Blanco read a congratulatory letter from U.S. Sen. magnificent product. Grumman for the Navy/U.S. Marine Corps team.. and Gulfport, Miss., and Tallulah, La. Groups. can carry up to 699 troops with a surge capability of up to 800.

Speaking to a crowd of more than 5,000, U.S. Sen. David Vitter of La., described the Northrop Grumman-built amphibious transport dock ship New Orleans (LPD 18) as a ship that ``embodies a new culture of technological growth and economic progress not only for the Navy and Marines, but also for the city of New Orleans and Louisiana. The ship was commissioned into the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet here today on the banks of the Mississippi River. ``I want to honor today the talented, dedicated and proud citizens of Louisiana who have produced this magnificent ship behind me,'' said Sen. Vitter. New Orleans is one of the most technologically advanced and sailor-friendly ships ever built. The ship's sponsor, Carolyn Johnson Shelton, wife of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S.

The Navy will commission the USS New Orleans, the newest amphibious transport dock ship, at a ceremony in New Orleans on March 10. Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana will deliver the ceremony’s principal address. The ship’s sponsor is Carolyn Shelton, wife of Gen. Henry H. Shelton, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. New Orleans honors the largest city of Louisiana and one of the world’s three largest seaports. In the past century, three naval ships have carried the name New Orleans: a protected cruiser, eventually designated CL-22, which served from 1898-1905 and 1909-1922; a cruiser designated CA-32, which served from 1934-1947; and an amphibious assault ship designated LPH-11, which served from 1968 -1997.

The USCG Puget Sound Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) issued a Notice