Republic Of Marshall Islands News

With the rise of China and her global ambitions, the military importance of Guam in the Indo-Pacific theater has become apparent. The force levels on the island had drawn down from a peak of about 26,000 at the height of the Vietnam War to a tenth of that—just 2,500 people in the early 2000s. Today, that's changing. Guam's defense posture is growing.Guam's proximity to major population centers in East Asia underscores its strategic importance. The island is just 1,400 miles from Tokyo, Manilla or Port Moresby. All of the armed services have a presence on Guam.

A next generation ultra large, liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) carrier being developed in a groundbreaking project between ABS, Hyundai Heavy Industries Group (HHI), and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Maritime Administrator is said to be the world’s largest in terms of LCO2 capacity.The 74,000cm3 design builds on the 40,000cm3 “super gap” technology developed in 2021 by HHI, which includes Hyundai Glovis, G-Marine service, and Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co.…

Two newbuild next generation CrewZer Class catamarans, SEACOR Puma and SEACOR Panther, have been delivered and have entered service for SEACOR Marine. The vessels were designed by Incat Crowther and built by Astillleros Armon in Spain and are unique in their capability to transfer personnel and equipment to offshore platforms at maximum speeds in excess of 40 knots. The design features 30 percent more deadweight capacity than its predecessor, while offering equivalent service speeds, Incat Crowther said.

On Earth Day, Pacific leaders queued among 175 countries to sign the Paris Agreement in New York. Earlier that day in London, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)’s sister UN specialized agency, met to discuss shipping’s “fair share” in reducing greenhouse gases in a far less publicized and not nearly as successful climate change debate. Pacific and European nations have been pressing the IMO since before Paris to join the “coalition of higher ambition”.

Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (MES) completed and delivered a 56,000 dwt type bulk carrier M.V. Desert Osprey (MES Hull No. 1862) at its Chiba Works on March 31 2015 to Lazio Shipping and Investment Limited, Republic of Marshall Islands. This is the 9th ship of our “neo56BC”, the new generation eco-ship. This keeps the superior usability and reliability of “Mitsui 56” which is highly appreciated in the market and more than 160 units have been delivered by MES. The electronic controlled engine and optimized shape make the superior propulsive efficiency and fuel oil consumption.

The Coast Guard suspended the search Saturday for an overdue 83-foot commercial fishing vessel near the Republic of Marshall Islands. Fishing vessel Clear Water 02 reportedly went missing with nine people aboard while en route Majuro for offload, March 12. "Suspending a search is never an easy decision and is only done after intense scrutiny and evaluation of our search efforts as a whole," said Lt. Justin Gear, JRCC Honolulu command duty officer. A Coast Guard aircraft searched 49,837 square miles totaling 44 search hours. Ten good Samaritan vessels also assisted in search efforts. A Navy P-3 Orion airplane from U.S. Navy 7th Fleet searched Thursday and Friday covering an additional 8,747 square miles.

The Coast Guard continues the search for an overdue 82-foot commercial fishing vessel near the Republic of Marshall Islands, Saturday. Fishing vessel Clear Water 02 reportedly went missing with nine people aboard while en route Majuro for offload, Thursday. A Coast Guard aircraft has searched approximately 14,000 square miles totaling eight search hours. Eight good Samaritan vessels are assisting with a total of 13,809 square miles searched since Thursday. At 5:26 p.m. Thursday, watchstanders at the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu received notification from the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Majuro after the vessel failed to return to port as scheduled.

The Australian Government announced a Request for Tender (RFT) to replace the Pacific Patrol Boats under the Pacific Maritime Security Program, Project SEA3036 Phase 1. The project involves the construction in Australia of up to 21 steel-hulled replacement patrol vessels, representing an investment in the nation’s defense industry with the Australian-made patrol boats worth $594 million in addition to through life sustainment and personnel costs estimated at $1.38 billion over 30 years.

A new $2 billion Pacific Patrol Boat (PPB) Program unveiled today by Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defense Minister David Johnston aims to significantly strengthen security in our region. “The Pacific Patrol Boat Program is an important pillar of the Australian Government’s commitment to working with our regional partners to enable cohesive security cooperation on maritime surveillance, including in fisheries protection and transnational crime,” Minister Bishop said. “Defense will replace the current fleet of patrol boats for all current PPB members with the addition of a new member, Timor-Leste (East Timor), which has been invited to join the program, evidence of Australia’s growing defense cooperation program with that country,” said Senator Johnston.

The U.S. Coast Guard said continues its search for a skiff with two people aboard near Ujae Atoll, Wednesday. Assisting in the search is an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, Oahu, the Republic of Marshall Islands’ Pacific Patrol Boat RMIS Lomor and AMVER vessel Mell Seringat. Watchstanders at Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu received notification from the Republic of Marshall Islands Sea Patrol Office Saturday afternoon that two people had been swept out to sea aboard a 12-foot skiff, Saturday.

Tom Ridge, President and CEO of Ridge Global, an international provider of security and risk management services, today announced that Thomas Betro, former Director of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), and VP at NTT DATA, has joined as an advisor. Betro will work closely with Ridge Global’s Flag Bridge strategic maritime team to help guide the expansion of a global maritime criminal investigation service. “We are fortunate to have a seasoned maritime law enforcement professional like Tom Betro on our team,” said Gov. Ridge.

evidence are due to Board 6/30.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Panama, HE Mr. Juan Alberto Castillero, on Feb. 6 deposited the instrument of ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 with the International Labour Organization (ILO). Panama, the largest flag State in the world, with nearly 25 per cent of the world’s merchant fleet flying its flag, is the fourth major shipping country in the world to ratify the Convention, adopted by the 94th International Labour Conference (Maritime) in Geneva in February 2006. Panama’s ratification is especially significant because, combined with the ratifications by Liberia, the Republic of Marshall Islands and the Bahamas (the next three largest States).