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Friday, May 10, 2024
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Port Said News

10 May 2024

Vessel Hijacking Attempt Reported off the Coast of Yemen

© momentscatcher / Adobe Stock

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) organization said on Friday it had received a report of a failed hijacking attempt of a vessel 195 nautical miles east of Yemen's Aden.The vessel's master reported being approached by a small craft carrying five or six armed people with ladders.Houthi militants in Yemen have launched drone and missile attacks on shipping in and around the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean to show support for the Palestinians in the Gaza war.Maritime sources say pirates may be encouraged by a relaxation of security or may be taking advantage of the chaos caused by

10 May 2024

Building the Next-Gen Maritime Prepositioning Ship & Auxiliary Crane Ship

The Military Sealift Command chartered ship MV Ocean Gladiator carried cargo to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, for Operation Deep Freeze 2024 in support of the National Science Foundation (NSF), lead agency for the United States Antarctic Program. The ship carries cranes to handle its own cargo.  (Military Sealift Command)

The Military Sealift Command’s Maritime Prepositioning Ships (MPS) and Auxiliary Crane Ships (ACS) were built 50 years ago to pre-position vehicles and supplies in forward locations and load or unload them in undeveloped or damaged port facilities. I serve with MSC’s Taluga Group, charged with finding innovative solutions to pressing problems. One of those challenges is meeting the MPS and ACS mission as the current ships continue to serve past their expected service lines.To…

09 May 2024

Charges Readied for Demolition of Portion of Key Bridge

Images courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photographer Christopher Rosario

The safest and swiftest method to remove the bridge piece from on top of the M/V Dali is by precision cuts made with small charges, said the Unified Command on Thursday as salvors were preparing charges. The charges will enable the upcoming precision cuts to remove section 4 from the port side of the bow of the Dali.The Singaporean-flagged container vessel Dali allided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26. The bridge, which connects Hawkins Point and Dundalk, Maryland…

09 May 2024

Keel Laying for Methanol Tugs

From left to right: Berkay Yilanci (Kotug. Site team) Ozgur Yakut (Kotug. Site team), Marcel van Meel (Kotug), Cem Seven (Sanmar Shipyards), Ali Gürün (Sanmar Shipyards) Ipek Gürün (Sanmar Shipyards), Zoë Kooren (Kotug), Ard-Jan Kooren (Kotug), Maciej Zielinski (Kotug.) Image courtesy KOTUG

On 8 May 2024, KOTUG Canada Inc., a partnership between KOTUG International B.V. and Horizon Maritime Inc., held a keel laying ceremony for two RAsalvor 4400-DFM dual fuel methanol escort tugs â€“ Robert Allan Ltd. design â€“ to service the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, at Sanmar Shipyards Altinova in Yalova, Turkiye. The first tug is expected to be delivered by mid-2025.The tugboats are reportedly the first of their kind to be powered by methanol and are engineered to provide…

09 May 2024

GCMD and NYK Line Study Long-Term Biofuel Use

Source: GCMD

The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) has teamed up with NYK Line to launch Project LOTUS (long-term impact of continuous use of biofuels on vessel operations).This six-month project will trial the continuous use of a biofuels blend comprising of 24% Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) and very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) onboard a short-sea vehicle carrier that will call at multiple ports. The use of a vessel plying short-sea routes will allow regular access to fuels stored onboard for sampling and testing during frequent port calls.FAME…

08 May 2024

Unfinished Hornbeck MPSV Arrives at Eastern for Build Completion

(Photo: Eastern Shipbuilding Group)

The first of two incomplete ultra high-spec multipurpose support vessels (MPSV) has arrived at Eastern Shipbuilding Group's Port St. Joe Shipyard, where the builder will finish constructing the vessel for Hornbeck Offshore Services.Earlier this year, Eastern secured a contract to complete construction of the two 400 class MPSVs after Hornbeck terminated the original build contracts with Gulf Island Shipyards in Houma, La. in 2018 over what it described as "performance issues".

08 May 2024

Olympic Flame Sails into Marseille Aboard 128-year-old Tall Ship

© catherinelprod / Adobe Stock

The Olympic flame landed on French soil amid tight security on Wednesday, firing the starting gun on a summer extravaganza of sport that President Emmanuel Macron hopes will showcase the splendours of France and burnish his legacy.The flame arrived in Marseille, a port city in southern France founded by Greek merchants, after a 12-day trip from Greece onboard the Belem, a 128-year-old three-masted tall ship that once transported sugar from France's colonies in the West Indies to the metropole.The torch was brought to land by Florent Manaudou…

08 May 2024

Conflict Heating Up Over Cosco's Megaport in Peru

© Ulf / Adobe Stock

The Chinese state-owned company at the center of a dispute over operations of a megaport it is building on Peru's Pacific coast insisted on Tuesday on terms agreed with the government, as some local officials have sought to backtrack on the deal.Hong Kong-based Cosco Shipping Ports will defend its legal rights to provide services as the exclusive operator of the deepwater Chancay Port Terminal under "terms that were agreed at the beginning of this investment," the firm said in…

08 May 2024

US Completes Pier to Deliver Aid for Gaza

(Photo: U.S. Army Central)

Aid for Gaza was being loaded onto a ship in Cyprus on Wednesday in what was expected to be the first cargo to be delivered using a U.S. pier built to expedite supplies to the besieged enclave.Containers were being stacked on the U.S. flagged Sagamore, docked at the port of Larnaca, on Wednesday. Some containers to the ship were labelled as aid from the United Arab Emirates.Konstantinos Letymbiotis, a Cyprus government spokesperson, said a U.S jetty built to handle aid shipments to Gaza had been completed."We are completing the loading of aid onto a U.S.

08 May 2024

McDermott’s Subsidiary Grabs Marsa LNG Job Worth Up To $250M

© aerial-drone / Adobe Stock

CB&I, a wholly owned subsidiary of McDermott, has been awarded a significant contract by TotalEnergies and OQ joint venture for the engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) of a full containment concrete liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tank, located in Oman's Port of Sohar.Under the contract, awarded by Marsa Liquefied Natural Gas, CB&I will provide turnkey EPC services for a 165,000m3 full containment concrete LNG storage tank and associated piping to grade.Project delivery will be executed in Oman…

08 May 2024

Kongsberg Thrusters for Six Tunisian PA Tugs

Image courtesy Kongsberg Maritime

Kongsberg Maritime won a contract to supply azimuth thrusters to Turkish shipbuilder Med Marine, to power six new sterndrive tugs for the Tunisian port authority OMMP.The new tugs, of Robert Allan RAstar 2800 series design, are designed for a range of towing and harbor operations in Tunisian ports.Kongsberg Maritime will supply a pair of its US205 FP azimuth thrusters to each of the six 28-m vessels. The thrusters feature 2.8-m, fixed pitch propellers which will deliver efficient operation and enhanced maneuverability…

07 May 2024

Authorities Identify Sixth Bridge Collapse Victim

Source: Keybridgeresponse2024

Unified Command salvage teams have located the sixth victim of the Baltimore bridge collapse.Maryland State Police investigators along with officers from the Maryland Transportation Authority Police and the FBI responded to the scene and recovered the body of a sixth construction worker. The victim is identified as José Mynor López, 37, of Baltimore, Maryland.“With heavy hearts, today marks a significant milestone in our recovery efforts and providing closure to the loved ones of the six workers who lost their lives in this tragic event,” said Colonel Roland L.

07 May 2024

Adversarial Seas: AI and the Evolving Cyber Threat in Maritime

Copyright Czintos Ödön/Adobe Stock

The maritime transportation system, the lifeblood of global trade, is undergoing a digital revolution. Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming how ships operate and cargo moves. However, this increased reliance on technology creates a double-edged sword: while AI offers powerful tools for cybersecurity, it also presents new vulnerabilities to exploit. This article explores the growing threat of adversarial AI (AAI) in maritime cyber security and how the industry…

07 May 2024

Grady Hurley Elected President of Maritime Law Association of the US

Grady Hurley (Photo: Jones Walker LLP)

Grady Hurley, a partner and co-leader of the maritime litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution team at Jones Walker LLP, has been elected president of the Maritime Law Association of the United States (MLA) during the organization’s general meeting held in New York City on May 3, 2024.Hurley is the fourth president elected from New Orleans during the MLA’s 125-year history. He most recently served as the organization’s first vice president.“I am privileged to serve as the…

07 May 2024

Royal Caribbean Recruiting Thousands to Meet Surging Demand

© Joni / Adobe Stock

Cruise operator Royal Caribbean Group is in discussions with new and existing markets around the world to recruit thousands of workers to staff its ships and private destinations to keep up with record cruise demand.The number of people taking cruises hit a record in 2023, and with the surge in demand and larger vessels, labor needs are growing. Tourism boards and port operators from around the world said Royal Caribbean is looking to hire worldwide and the company confirmed it will hire around 10…

07 May 2024

Last of Six New Tugs Delivered to Svitzer in Brazil

(Photo: Svitzer)

Marine towage provider Svitzer announced it has taken delivery of the final tug in a series of six built for its operations in Brazil.Built by Brazilian shipyard Rio Maguari, the new vessel Svitzer Babitonga is an Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tugboat from the 2300 Rampart Series, designed by Robert Allan Ltd. These sister vessels boast a top speed of 13 knots, an overall length of 23.2 meters, and a bollard pull of 70 tonnes. Svitzer Babitonga is also equipped with Fifi-1 firefighting…

07 May 2024

Used Vehicle Lashing Belts being Recycled into Solid Fuel

Source: NYK

NYK Line, NYK Trading Corporation, Azbil Yamatake Friendly and Kayama Kogyo have begun recycling vehicle lashing belts that have passed their expiration dates for use on NYK-operated car carriers.Azbil Yamatake Friendly collects the belts and separates the metal parts from the plastic lashing of the belts. Kayama Kogyo is then producing refuse-derived paper and plastics densified fuel (RPF fuel) from the plastic belts. Kayama Kogyo is using renewable energy sources for all electricity used in fuel production.Approximately 200…

06 May 2024

Inclinometers Readied for Dali Operations

(U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Christopher Rosario)

Salvage crews within the Key Bridge Unified Command continue to prepare for the complex task of removing the large piece of bridge lying on top of the M/V Dali.Prior to removing the bridge piece, salvage teams must meticulously analyze and factor in numerous hazards and obstacles resulting from the bridge's impact. Crushed containers, hull damage, and weight shifts are among the critical considerations crews must address during the bridge removal and refloating operation of the…

03 May 2024

Bad Weather Forces US Military to Pause Gaza Pier Construction

(Photo: U.S. Central Command)

The U.S. military said on Friday it was temporarily pausing the offshore construction of a maritime pier because of weather conditions and instead would continue building it at the Israeli port of Ashdod.The maritime pier, once built, will be placed off the coast of Gaza in a bid to speed the flow of humanitarian aid into the enclave."Forecasted high winds and high sea swells caused unsafe conditions for soldiers working on the surface of the partially constructed pier," the U.S.

05 May 2024

Unified Command Prepares for Removal of Bridge Piece on Top of Dali

(Key Bridge Unified Command Photo by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Visual Information Specialist Christopher Rosario)

Key Bridge Unified command salvors have begun preparing for the removal of bridge section four, which lies across the bow of the M/V Dali.The operation requires careful handling of roadbed material, crushed containers and bridge fragments currently resting on the M/V Dali’s bow.The salvage teams are preparing for the refloat of the Dali, ensuring all aspects of the wreckage impacts are thoroughly evaluated and addressed. "The complexities of this next phase of operations require thorough preparation, strategic planning, and specialized expertise," said Capt.

06 May 2024

New Long Island Ferry Launched at Eastern Shipbuilding

(Photo: Eastern Shipbuilding Group)

Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) on Friday held a launch and christening ceremony for the ferry Long Island at its Allanton Shipyard in Panama City, Fla.Scheduled to be delivered later this year, the new Subchapter H passenger and auto ferry is being built for Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company, a subsidiary of McAllister Towing, for operations between Bridgeport, Conn., and Port Jefferson, N.Y., traversing the Long Island Sound. The vessel was christened by Rosemary McAllister…

06 May 2024

Red Sea Disruption Could Cut Asia-Europe Capacity, Maersk Says

© Trygve / Adobe Stock

Disruption to Red Sea container shipping is rising, Maersk said on Monday, forecasting this will cut the industry's capacity between Asia and Europe by up to 20% in the second quarter.Maersk and other shipping companies have diverted vessels around Africa's Cape of Good Hope since December to avoid attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi militants in the Red Sea, with the longer voyage times pushing freight rates higher."The risk zone has expanded, and attacks are reaching further offshore…

06 May 2024

Fortescue’s Ammonia-Powered Vessel Wraps Up Sea Trials in Singapore

Fortescue Green Pioneer vessel (Credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore)

Fortescue, with the support from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and partners, has completed propulsion and maneuverability trials of its Singapore-registered Fortescue Green Pioneer dual fuel ammonia-powered vessel in the Port of Singapore.The trials were conducted using 6.4 m3 (4.4 tonnes) of liquid ammonia, in combination with diesel and Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a second-generation biofuel, as marine fuel over 10 days from April 23, 2024 to May 2…