Marine Link
Friday, March 29, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Israeli Government News

02 Feb 2024

Australian Livestock: Second Vessel Heads to Red Sea

Bahijah and Jawan in Fremantle (Source: Michael Mondello)

A ship carrying 16,000 sheep and cows that turned back from the Red Sea due to the risk of attack off Yemen was stranded at an Australian port in a heatwave on Friday as the exporter sought to offload at least some of the animals into quarantine.Meanwhile, another vessel carrying an even larger cargo - tens of thousands of animals - from Australia sailed for a Red Sea port in Jordan, with a contingency plan to unload them in the Gulf if it fails to obtain permission to enter the…

12 Dec 2023

Yemen's Houthis Claim Missile Attack on Norwegian Tanker

Houthi military spokesperson Yehia Sarea

Yemen's Houthis said on Tuesday they hit a Norwegian commercial tanker with a missile in their latest protest against Israel's bombardment of Gaza, underlining the risks of a conflict that has shaken the Middle East.The Iran-aligned group attacked the tanker, the Strinda, because it was delivering crude oil to an Israeli terminal and after its crew ignored all warnings, Houthi military spokesperson Yehia Sarea said in a statement.But the tanker's owner, Norway's Mowinckel Chemical Tankers, said the vessel was headed to Italy with a cargo of biofuel feedstock, not crude oil.

02 Nov 2023

Israel's Ship Industry Urges Government to Help with Jump in War Insurance

© MagioreStockStudio / Adobe Stock

Ships sailing for Israel face a 10-fold jump in war risk premiums as the conflict in Gaza intensifies, prompting industry calls for the government to help ensure vital imports keep coming.Israel has vowed to annihilate Islamist group Hamas after its fighters stormed through Israeli towns from Gaza on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people and seizing more than 220 hostages.Israeli forces have hit back with deadly air strikes and now a ground offensive on the narrow coastal strip, with growing fears the conflict could escalate and pull in the whole region.Israel…

25 Mar 2021

Israeli-owned Cargo Ship Hit by Missile in Arabian Sea

A cargo ship owned by an Israeli company was damaged by a missile in the Arabian Sea on Thursday in what was suspected to be an Iranian attack, an Israeli security official said.The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the ship was on its way from Tanzania to India and was able to continue its voyage after the attack.The official did not provide further details.According to Israel's Ynet news website, the ship sailing under a Liberian flag did not sustain serious damage and Channel 12 news reported the ship is owned by XT Management, based in the port city of Haifa.Reuters could not reach officials at the company for comment.

24 May 2019

Kiel Builds First New Corvette for Israel

The launching of the new corvette “Ins Magen” in Kiel marks an important step in the ongoing program of Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems as general contractor to build four next-generation SA’AR-6 class missile vessels for the Israeli Navy.The ship was named by Mrs. Eti Sharvit, wife of Vice Admiral Eli Sharvit, Chief of the Israeli Navy, in presence of high-level representatives from the Israeli Government and Navy as well as high-ranking German Navy officials.Dr. Rolf Wirtz, CEO of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems: "We are very proud to be contributing to Israel's security. The corvettes are the most advanced and most sizeable vessels that ever served in the Israeli Navy.

29 May 2017

Energean Signs First Deal to Supply Gas to Israel

Greek developer Energean Oil & Gas has secured its first gas supply deals for Israel's Karish and Tanin reservoirs, Reuters reported. The deals were signed with Dalia Power, which operates Israel's largest private power station, and Or Power, which is planning to build new power plants, Energean said in a statement. The two firms will be purchasing an overall amount of up to 23 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas to operate the Dalia power plant – Israel's largest private power station –  as well as future such facilities to be built by Or, the partners announced on Sunday. Energean, a private exploration and production company in the eastern Mediterranean…

19 Jan 2017

Israel Bolsters Navy to Protect Offshore Oil & Gas

Offshore energy platforms a potential target; Israel accepting bids on 24 new exploration blocks. Israel is boosting spending on its navy to better protect offshore oil and gas deposits and secure a large maritime zone that abuts that of its neighbour and enemy, Lebanon. The navy asked in 2013 for an increase in its budget of $700 million to build up its systems and $100 million annually to maintain them, though the defence ministry declines to say how much it has since received. The increase was tied to the need to defend the oil and gas development, and the current spending comes as Israel begins accepting bids from companies that want to explore 24 offshore blocks in the eastern Mediterranean that adjoin the vast Leviathan deposit.

18 Feb 2015

Israel Rolls Out Port Privatization Program

The Israeli Government will privatize its two main ports, Ashdod and Haifa in 2015 and 2016 respectively. The plans were proposed by the Finance Ministry and have been approved by the Prime Minister. The Finance Ministry said the ports would be sold in a private sale, not on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, either in stages or all at one time. Ori Yogev, who is officially the head of the Government Companies Authority, a unit of the finance ministry said that would not stand in the way of the government floating up to 49 percent of the Ashdod port - one of two main seaports on the Mediterranean coast - on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) in November or December. The controlling stake will be sold in 2020.

22 Jan 2015

Maersk Drilling Mulls Leviathan Contracts

Jonas Bjork, commercial manager Maersk Drilling Denmark, a subsidiary of Maersk Group, says that Israel is in his radar in the near future and hinted that his company targets Leviathan contracts, reports Globes. Bjork added that the Israeli government may make things difficult, but it is also willing to listen and to learn. His impression is that the regulation in Israel in the natural gas sector is difficult, but the government is prepared to study the energy field, is open to change, and is flexible. According to Bjork, he came to Israel to investigate whether there is a market for drilling here. He knows that the Leviathan reservoir will need rigs for both drilling and production of gas and oil, he pointed out. The expectation is that 8 wells will be drilled at Leviathan.

16 Apr 2014

Woodside Q1 earning up, no Leviathan deal

Woodside Petroleum, Australia's largest independent oil and gas producer, reported a 5 percent rise in first quarter production on Thursday but said it had not yet finalised a deal to take a stake in Israel's Leviathangas field. Woodside had been expected to invest up to $2.7 billion in Leviathan last month, but delayed the signing while it sought clarity with the Israeli government over tax treatment. Woodside said first quarter production was 23 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe), versus 21.9 mmboe a year ago and 23.2 mmboe in the fourth quarter. In January, the company said it expected to produce 86-93 mmboe in 2014. Revenue was $1.675 billion, up 15.9 percent on a year ago. (Reporting by Lincoln Feast; Editing by Paul Tait)

28 Jun 2011

Israeli Navy to Block Gaza-Bound Flotilla

According to a report from UPI.com, Israeli military forces were told on June 27 to be firm in blocking a Gaza-bound flotilla while exercising restraint to avoid injuries, Israeli leaders said. UPI.com said reports indicate 10 ships plan to set sail June 28 to breach Israel's blockade of Gaza. Israeli government and military officials said they hope the ships will stop voluntarily, avoiding the possibility that Israeli naval forces will have to board them.   Source: UPI.com

07 Oct 2009

Remembrance of the Achille Lauro Hijacking

On 7 October 1985, four members of the Palestine Liberation Front (PLF) hijacked the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro as it was in the Mediterranean Sea en route from Alexandria, Egypt to Port Said. After the Israeli Government refused their demand for release of 50 imprisoned Palestinians, they killed disabled American passenger Leon Klinghoffer and threw him and his wheelchair overboard. The terrorists surrendered to Egyptian officials and boarded a flight to Tunisia. The flight was intercepted by U.S. Navy fighter aircraft and was forced to land in Italy. The four hijackers were arrested by the Italian Government but their alleged leader, Abu Abbas, was allowed to depart. This incident awakened governments around the world and the IMO to the security threats faced by passenger vessels.

08 Aug 2001

Reefership Within A Containership

Embodying a multi-tweendeck section for fresh farm produce in a hull otherwise given over to containers, a new generation of vessels for the Israeli fruit and vegetable trade could help shape the future of the palletized reefer sector. Highlighting the propensity for innovation and technological advance in Israel's export-minded agricultural industry, two 15,000-dwt newbuilds will combine the requisite capacity and quality control for premium, perishable goods with a broader cargo carrying capability. While refrigerated cargo transportation by sea is increasingly gravitating to the containerized mode, Tel Aviv-based marketeer and exporter…

18 Aug 1999

MarAd Offering Tankers for Sale; Issue Ruling

The Maritime Administration (MarAd) has two tankers up for sale, for the limited purpose of their reconstruction for sale or charter to a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) country for use as oilers. Both vessels, Henry Eckford and Benjamin Isherwood, are located at the James River Reserve Fleet, Fort Eustis, Va. MarAd also issued a ruling denying Apex Marine Ship Management Company's request for confirmation. The ruling states upon properly being document under the U.S.-flag, an existing foreign-built vessel may be qualified immediate participation in the U.S.-Israel grain trade consistent with the terms of a 1998 Side Letter issued by the Israeli Government. Liberty Maritime Corporation opposed the request. In addition, Park Place New Orleans of Las Vegas, Nev.