IFC Initiative Spearheads Interferry Forum’s Review of Future
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) – part of the World Bank Group that provides development loans to poor nations - is poised to support the ferry industry for the first time after asking trade association Interferry to help identify deserving countries and operators. The initiative will be explained at Interferry’s 37th annual conference in Dubai from October 21-24, which will also feature dramatic insights from power solutions giant Wärtsilä on how a fast-changing world could impact on shipping by the year 2030. IFC interest in the ferry sector was prompted by the ongoing IMO/Interferry joint programme to improve ferry safety in developing nations.
Arctic Shield 2012: USCG Mounts Historic Arctic Effort
While it seems that half the world is monitoring the oil and gas exploration activities of Royal Dutch Shell (Shell Oil) on the United States outer continental shelf (OCS) in waters of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas off the north coast of Alaska, another historic event is occurring in those same waters: Arctic Shield 2012. The US Coast Guard is assembling its largest ever effort in the Arctic during the period July through October 2012. The Coast Guard has been gradually expanding its presence in the Arctic over the past four years.
China Icebreaker to Sail for Arctic Seas
Growing interest in the Arctic and tne Northern Passage includes China. The Chinese icebreaker "Xue Long" sets sail on an Arctic mission this summer and Beijing hopes the massive icebreaker will reach the Barents Sea before returning in September. “If the expedition goes according to the plan it will also be the first time for a Chinese icebreaker to reach the Barents Sea,” Liu Cigui, director of China’s State Oceanic Administration told the Chinese official news agency Xinhua.
CNOOC Discovers New Oil and Gas field in Bohai Sea
China National Offshore Oil Corp. Ltd. (CNOOC), the country's largest offshore oil producer, announced that it discovered a new oil and gas field, dubbed Bozhong 28-2 East, in Bohai Sea. Bozhong 28-2 East is located between Bozhong 28-1 oil and gas field and Bozhong 28-2 South oil field near the Yellow River mouth. A 35-meter gas layer and a 35-meter oil layer have been discovered underneath the sea water measuring 20 meters in depth. According to test by drill pipes, the field is estimated to produce 1,600 barrels of oil and ten million cubic feet of gas per day at an average level. Source: Xinhua
