Strategic Shipping News

Nakilat  announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020 with a net profit of $76 million compared to $64 million during the same period in 2019, with an increase of 18%.Despite the ongoing challenges of the global pandemic, Nakilat continued to uphold operational management of its LNG and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessels.Additionally, Nakilat group continued to strengthen its value proposition, with the ship repair, offshore fabrication, towage and…

Pirates attacked a South Korean-flagged cargo ship in the South China Sea early on Monday, stealing thousands of dollars in cash and even the sailors' shoes, South Korean authorities said.Two people sustained minor injuries when seven pirates boarded the CK Bluebell and made off with $13,000 and belongings including mobile phones, clothes and shoes from the 22-strong crew, officials from the oceans and fisheries ministry said.Tougher policing has made piracy less frequent on the strategic shipping route in recent years.The dry bulk vessel CK Bluebell had set sail from its anchorage off Singapore on Saturday afternoon, heading northeast for South Korea's port of Incheon, Refinitiv Eikon ship tracking data showed.Korean officials said the ship was sailing normally after the robbery.The incid

Saudi Arabia said on Thursday it was suspending oil shipments through the Red Sea after Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis attacked two crude tankers, underscoring risks caused by the conflict in the world's top oil exporting region.Iran, in its row with the United States over sanctions, has also threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, the other major strategic shipping route for oil from the region and the main route for Iranian crude exports.Below are facts about region's shipping routes:Bab al-MandebAny move to block the Bab al-Mandeb…

Saudi Arabia said on Thursday it was suspending oil shipments through a strategic Red Sea lane after Yemen's Iran-aligned rebels attacked two tankers in the waterway, underscoring the risk of an escalation in tensions in the region.Brent crude futures rose 59 cents to $74.52 a barrel by 1008 GMT, extending their rally into a third day but falling from a 10-day high in earlier trading.Saudi Arabia and arch-foe Iran have been locked in a three-year proxy war in Yemen, which lies on one side of the Bab al-Mandeb strait at the southern mouth of the sea, one of the most important trade routes for oil tankers heading from the Middle East to Europe.The Houthis…

Winterthur Gas & Diesel (WinGD) has inaugurated a new installation of its W-Xpert Full Mission Simulator (FMS) for training complete engine room crews at the Marine Power Academy Training Center of Hudong Heavy Machinery Co. Ltd. (HHM), in Shanghai, China. The simulator joins a network of some 20 further installations at strategic locations around the world. As well as being the first installation of WinGD’s dedicated, multi-touchscreen simulation hardware in China, the Shanghai…

France-based CMA CGM today announced a new direct weekly container service to Asia from the Port of New Orleans Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal. Part of the company’s PEX3 service, the inaugural vessel is scheduled to arrive on January 31 for service by terminal operator Ports America. “CMA CGM is proud to be expanding our presence in New Orleans, further showing our commitment to the Gulf region, and Louisiana specifically. We look forward to continued growth in the region, and are pleased to be contributing to the evolution and development of this vital hub. In the U.S., the Group now offers a global coverage with 23 services in and out of North America to over 150 countries around the world,” said Marc Bourdon, CMA CGM America LLC President.

China has rejected a protest from Vietnam over a flight test it has conducted on a new airstrip on a man-made island in the South China Sea, saying it is part of China’s territory. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Saturday that the flight is to test whether the airfield facilities can meet civil aviation standards. “China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters. China will not accept the unfounded accusation from the Vietnamese side,” Hua said. Vietnam Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh said the test flight violated Vietnam’s sovereignty, breached mutual understanding and hurt the bilateral relations.

The proposed cash acquisition of NOL at SGD 1.30 per NOL share, represents a 49% premium to NOL’s unaffected share price. Strategic acquisition resulting in combined turnover of USD 22 billion and fleet size of 563 vessels. CMA CGM, a global leader in container shipping, today announces a pre-conditional voluntary general cash offer for Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), Southeast Asia’s largest container shipping company (SGX: N03), subject to the satisfaction of the pre-conditions specified in such announcement. NOL’s majority shareholders (Temasek and its affiliates) have irrevocably undertaken to tender all of their shares in acceptance of the Offer.

The acquisition of Imtech Marine by Pon Holdings and Parcom Capital has been finalized. The European Commission has approved the takeover of the leading maritime service provider. Imtech Marine will continue to operate independently and will, in the coming period, further focus on its growth ambitions. René ten Brinke, CEO of Imtech Marine: ‘’Now that the acquisition is completed, a new era arises for Imtech Marine. The coming years, our aim will be to further strengthen our leading position in the maritime sector, with dedicated focus on our customers, employees and suppliers. Imtech Marine is a  company in the global maritime market, operating as a full-service provider and system integrator of tailor-made, innovative and sustainable technology solutions covering the whole ship.

Drydocks World, the leading provider of maritime and offshore services to the shipping, oil, gas, and energy sectors, will participate in the prestigious 26th edition of Shipbuilding, Machinery, and Marine Technology (SMM) Exhibition, from September 9-12, 2014. Taking place in the strategic shipping hub of Hamburg, Germany, Drydocks World will attend SMM 2014 with representatives from Maritime World, Dubai Chamber and Dubai Council for Marine and Maritime Industries. In the past several years Drydocks World relations with Germany and the EU have been very strong with 39% of vessels serviced at Drydocks World-Dubai belonging to European customers of which 18% represent clients from Germany.

Marking another order for Deltamarin’s B.Delta37, the first Chinese shipowner COSCO has ordered four 40,000 DWT Handymax bulk carriers at Tianjin Xingang shipyard in China. In addition to the latest COSCO order, 16 B.Delta37 vessels had previously been ordered at the Tianjin Xingang shipyard, with eight vessels for Louis Dreyfus Armateurs and another eight for M.T. Maritime Management Group (MTMM) / Strategic Shipping Inc. (SSI). The main dimensions of the vessels for COSCO are: length below 180 m and beam 30 m. The service speed at design draught is 14.0 knots.

The Coast Guard is scheduled to participate in training exercises Thursday, in the vicinity of Los Angeles Harbor and Long Beach Harbor. Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) San Diego 91109 will partner with U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection, Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) as participants in the Center for Asymmetric Warfare exercise Coastal Trident 2014. The Pacific Strike Team (PST) and National Guard 9th Civil Support Team will practice first aid and decontamination capabilities. MSST San Diego was created under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 in direct response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and is a part of the Department of Homeland Security’s layered strategy directed at protecting seaports and waterways.

Deltamarin announced that so far a total of 103 B.Deltas and derivates have been ordered by several world-known shipowners at nine Chinese shipyards. The latest addition is the order of eight open hatch B.Delta37 bulk carriers by Polish shipowner, Polska Zegluga Morska P.P. (Polsteam), at Yangfan Group shipyard. The main dimensions of Polsteam’s B.Delta37 are 179.99 m in overall length and 30.0 m in beam, with cargo carrying capacity of 50,000 m3. With a service speed of 14.0 knots…

A Change of Command Ceremony was held at Reservation Point aboard Base San Pedro, Wednesday for the Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team Los Angeles-Long Beach (MSST LA-LB). During the ceremony Lt. Cmdr. Taylor Lam assumed the duties and responsibilities as commanding officer of MSST LA-LB from Lt. Cmdr. Tim Margita while Capt. Thomas E. Crabbs presided over the ceremony. Lam comes to MSST LA-LB from the Office of Congressional Affaris in Washington, D.C. He served at the former Tactical Law Enforcement Team North where he deployed aboard U.S. and Foreign Naval ships conducting Maritime Law Enforcement operations in the Pacific and Caribbean Oceans.

The new orders are the first B. Delta 37 bulk carriers to be built at Chengxi shipyard and have been specifically amended to take into account specific requirements of China Navigation. Tianjin Xingang Shipbuilding Heavy Industries Co. is currently building other B. Delta 37 handy-size bulk carriers for Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) and M.T.M. Ship Management Pte Ltd. / Strategic Shipping Inc. and additional shipbuilding contracts are expected to be signed within a few months. •    Length over all 180 m. •    Beam 30 m. •    Scantling draft 10.50 m. •    Deadweight 39,500 metric tonnes. •    Cargo cubic 48,500 m3. Deltamarin has focused on fuel efficiency in the designs.

Deltamarin has signed an agreement with Tianjin Xingang Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., part of CSIC Group for the design of four very low fuel consumption Handysize Bulk Carriers to be built for M.T. Maritime Management Group / Strategic Shipping Inc. Deltamarin will take care of the Basic and Detail designs of the vessels as well as of Technical Procurement handling. Deltamarin will also have a site team to take the design to production. This is the second order for the B.Delta37 standard bulk carriers, which have evoked the interest of the market with their improved deadweight, cubic capacity and especially the extremely low fuel consumption compared to other available designs. The overall vessel length will be below 180 x 30m, with a service speed at design draft of 14 knots.

IMO Secretary-General Mr. Efthimios Mitropoulos has stressed the importance of ensuring that strategically important international shipping lanes are protected from the threat of terrorism and remain open for trade at all times. Announcing the latest International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code compliance figures to the Council's 92nd session, which meets 21 to 25 June (see figures below), Mr. Mitropoulos emphasized the need to ensure that shipping lanes, particularly those of strategic significance and importance, are kept open under all circumstances. "To this effect, we have undertaken some research work in the Secretariat…

Operating profit for the CMA CGM Group is expected to return to the breakeven point in December 2009, ahead of the company’s cautious forecasts in September 2009. The savings plan applied throughout all segments of the group, combined with increasingly firm volumes and rates, is already producing its initial effects. The recovery of operating profit illustrates the shipping expertise of the CMA CGM teams, which have been entirely focused on achieving this objective. -     Optimized capacity in line with transport demand on all the Group’s lines. Furthermore, by soon extending “super eco speed” to all ships on ocean-going lines, the group will further reduce fuel consumption by the end of the year, thus saving tens of millions of dollars.