Zhejiang News

China Harbors Ship Tied to North Korea-Russia Arms Transfers

China is providing moorage for a U.S.-sanctioned Russian cargo ship implicated in North Korean arms transfers to Russia, according to satellite images obtained by Reuters, as U.S. concerns grow over Beijing's support for Moscow's war in Ukraine.Britain's Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank said the Russian vessel Angara, which since August 2023 has moved to Russian ports thousands of containers believed to contain North Korean munitions, has been anchored at a Chinese…

CCS Grants AiP for Liquid Hydrogen Fuel Supply System

China Classification Society (CCS) has issued a first Approval in Principle (AiP) certificate for the marine liquid hydrogen fuel supply system developed by Weishi Energy Technology Hebei.The system design includes a marine liquid hydrogen tank and cold box, supercooled hydrogen storage technology, heat exchange technology, regulated hydrogen supply technology and subcooled hydrogenation technology. Dual-boost functionality ensures rapid system startup, says CCS, and the system…

CCS Grants AiP to China’s First Methanol Bunkering Ship Design

China Classification Society (CCS) has completed the first approval in principle (AiP) for the design of a methanol bunkering ship in China.The AiP was issued by CCS Wuhan Rules and Research Institute to Zhejiang Seahead Ship Design and Research Institute.The ship, with a maximum capacity of 7,500t and capable of bunkering fuel oil and methanol, is designed to service large ships. The design fully considers the risks of methanol bunkering and the future development of demand in Zhoushan…

Singapore’s First Hybrid Electric Bunker Vessel Delivered

Singapore’s first hybrid bunker tanker, Marine Charge, has been delivered to V-Bunkers, Vitol’s Singaporean bunker operations company.The 7990-ton vessel, designed by SeaTech Solutions and built by Zhejiang Shenzhou Sunshine Heavy Industry is fitted with 480Kwh of Shift’s energy storage system (ESS).Shift Clean Energy’s ESS will be primarily used for peak shaving (storing energy during low power consumption for use during peak usage periods, allowing main generators to operate with a more stable load).

V-Bunkers Unveils Singapore’s First Electric-Hybrid Bunker Vessel

Vitol’s Singaporean bunker operations company, V-Bunkers, has announced the imminent delivery of what will be Singapore’s first electric-hybrid bunker tanker.The vessel, Marine charge, features lithium-ion batteries and an automated Power Management System expected to achieve an estimated 10% reduction in GHG emissions.The design configuration enables the auxiliary engines to operate at the most optimal specific fuel oil consumption, while the energy storage system (ESS) performs peak shaving during low power consumption periods for usage of stored energy during high consumption periods.

Russia and China Hold Naval Drills, Practice Submarine Capture

Russia and China have completed naval drills in the East China Sea, after a week of joint exercises which included practicing how to capture an enemy submarine with depth charges and firing artillery at a warship, Russia's defense ministry said.The Dec.

Eastern China Ports at Standstill as Typhoon Muifa Closes In

Authorities in China's eastern province of Zhejiang ordered ships to return to port, told schools to close and evacuated tourists from nearby islands, as one of this year's strongest typhoons is set to make landfall on Wednesday.Typhoon Muifa intensified on Tuesday as it barreled towards the twin port cities of Ningbo and Zhoushan, which share the ranking of second-busiest port in China, in terms of cargo handled.State media said China's 12th cyclone of the year was expected to make landfall between the cities of Wenling and Zhoushan…

Bunker Vessel Delivered to Hai Soon Diesel & Trading

Hai Soon Diesel & Trading (HSDT) has taken delivery of the third and final tanker in a series of bunker vessels constructed at Zhejiang Shenzhou Sunshine Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. Built to ABS class, the three 6,060 dwt oil tankers join HSDT’s 21-strong fleet to provide bunkering services to the fishing industry.“Hai Soon is committed to providing bunkering services at high seas and in ports with the highest standards of safety and service quality. We are happy to work closely with ABS in our business expansion with the addition of more energy-efficient vessels to our fleet…

Maersk Warns Shanghai Lockdown to Boost Shipping Costs Further

Danish shipper Maersk said the Shanghai lockdown will severely hurt trucking services and increase transport costs, as China's intensifying efforts to fight the spread of COVID-19 further rattles global supply chains.The Chinese coastal city, home to some of the world's busiest sea and airports, began locking down half of the city on Monday and intends to do the same to the other half for four days starting Friday in a two-stage testing exercise.While it has kept its airports and deepwater port open…

China Issues Additional LSFO Quotas for 2021

China has issued new export quotas for the export of low-sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) used to power ships and for other refined fuels such as gasoline and diesel for the rest of 2021, according to a trading source and document reviewed by Reuters on Thursday.Under the new quotas, 1 million tonnes of LSFO can be exported while 1.579 million tonnes of refined fuels can be shipped, according to the source and the document issued by the Ministry of Commerce.The new issue brings this year’s total permits for refined fuel exports to about 38.6 million tonnes…

China's Crude Oil Imports in Oct Drop to Lowest in Three Years

China's crude oil imports plunged in October to the lowest since September 2018, as large state-owned refiners withheld purchases because of rising prices while independent refiners were restrained by limited quotas to import.The world's biggest crude oil importer brought in 37.8 million tonnes last month, data from the General Administration of Customs showed on Sunday, equivalent to 8.9 million barrels per day (bpd).That is down from 9.99 million bpd in September and 10.02 million bpd in the same period last year.Over the January-October period, crude arrivals totaled 425.06 million tonnes,

China Looks to Lock in US LNG as Energy Crunch Raises Concerns

Major Chinese energy companies are in advanced talks with U.S. exporters to secure long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG)supplies, as soaring gas prices and domestic power shortages heighten concerns about the country's fuel security, several sources said.At least five Chinese firms, including state major Sinopec Corp and China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) and local government-backed energy distributors like Zhejiang Energy, are in discussions with U.S. exporters, mainly Cheniere Energy and Venture Global…

Genco Buys Secondhand Ultramax Bulk Carrier

Dry bulk shipping company Genco Shipping & Trading Limited said on Wednesday it has reached a deal to acquire a 2016-built 64,000 dwt Ultramax bulk carrier constructed at Zhejiang Yangfan shipyard in China. The vessel, to be renamed Genco Enterprise, is expected to be delivered to Genco between May and July 2021.The purchase marks the fourth Ultramax vessel that Genco has agreed to acquire since December 2020 amid surging rates in the dry bulk sector.John C. Wobensmith, Genco CEO, said, “This latest Ultramax acquisition further grows our presence within the key Ultramax sector that we believe will seamlessly integrate with our strong in-house commercial operating platform.

MISC Takes Delivery of VLEC Seri Elbert

MISC Berhad (MISC) has taken delivery of its sixth Very Large Ethane Carrier (VLEC) – Seri Elbert, from Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. Seri Elbert and her sister vessels - Seri Everest, Seri Erlang, Seri Emei, Seri Emory and Seri Emperor are a series of second generation VLECs – all of which were acquired by MISC from Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical Co. Ltd. (STL) in July 2020.See related story on Seri Everest, one of Maritime Reporter & Engineeering News' Great Ships of 2020Mr.

China Seizes 11 Ships in $770 Million Oil Smuggling Bust

China foiled criminals seeking to smuggle nearly 1 million tonnes of refined oil worth 5 billion yuan ($770 million), with officials seizing 11 ships and detaining 171 suspects in a sprawling swoop on Tuesday, customs authorities said.The operation, which saw customs officers from the port city of Ningbo join forces with local law enforcement and maritime police, spanned eight Chinese regions, including the coastal provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong and Fujian, the General Administration of Customs said in a statement.A total of 14 gangs were busted on Tuesday, the agency added.

China Low-sulphur Marine Fuel Exports Hit New Heights

China's exports of clean marine fuels rose in December to a record since shipments began a year ago, taking 2020 exports of the ship fuel to 15.45 million tonnes, customs data showed on January 20, 2021.Chinese oil refineries began exporting very low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) in January to comply with emission rules set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), after Beijing granted tax incentives to boost production and help create a regional bunkering hub. In December…

China's 2020 Crude Oil Imports Hit Record

China's total crude oil imports surged 7.3% in 2020 despite the coronavirus shock early in the year, with record arrivals in the second and third quarter amid plunging oil prices and expanding refineries, data showed on Thursday.For 2020, the world's top oil buyer brought in a record 542.37 million tonnes of crude oil, or 10.85 million barrels per day (bpd).December shipments were 38.47 million tonnes, equivalent to 9.06 million bpd, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs on Thursday.That was down about 15% from 10.71 million bpd in December last year and off 11.04

CNOOC Leads First LNG Group Purchasing on Shanghai gas exchange

Chinese state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) has led the first group purchasing order for liquefied natural gas (LNG) on the Shanghai Petroleum and Natural Gas Exchange, the bourse said in a statement on Wednesday.The 120,000-tonne LNG cargo will arrive in April 2021 via CNOOC's terminals and other approved hubs in Shenzhen and Guangdong, the exchange said. Buyers will have until the end of September to collect their purchases.The exchange's newly launched group purchasing option for LNG buy tenders allows smaller firms to purchase portions of a larger cargo.

China's Exports Pinched by Global Shortage of Shipping Containers

China's world-beating economic rebound from the coronavirus pandemic is being blunted by a global shortage of shipping containers, sending cargo costs to record highs and hampering manufacturers in filling fast-recovering global goods orders.Exports from China surged 21% in November from a year ago as the country's mammoth industrial engine cranked out mountains of appliances, toys, clothes, personal protective equipment, and other items currently in high demand around the world.But…

Vale, Chinese Port Ink $651 Mln Iron Ore Facilities Deal

Brazil's Vale and China's Ningbo Zhoushan Port have signed a deal to invest around 4.3 billion yuan ($650.6 million) in iron ore storage and processing facilities in Zhejiang, a local government statement said on Friday.The move follows the two firms' inauguration of a grinding hub at the port in eastern China in August and further boosts Vale's presence in the top global consumer of the steelmaking raw material.Vale, the world's second-biggest iron ore miner, and Ningbo Zhoushan Port will each hold 50% in the joint venture (JV), whose planned creation was flagged in a filing last month.

World's Largest Ethane Carrier Delivered

MISC Berhad (MISC) has taken delivery of the world's largest very large ethane carrier (VLEC) at the Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) shipyard in Geoje, South Korea.The newbuild 98,000 cubic meter capacity Seri Everest, MISC's first VLEC, is the lead vessel in a series of six that the shipowner purchased from Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical (STL) in July 2020. Concurrently, MISC had also entered into time charter parties (TCPs) with STL, for the six VLECs to operate in international waters.

Glencore to Send First Spot LNG Cargo to Zhoushan

Swiss-based global mining and commodities trader Glencore is set to send its first spot liquefied natural gas cargo to Zhoushan in eastern China in a trading joint venture with Zhejiang Energy Group, a top company trader said on Friday.Glencore's joint venture with Zhejiang, which is backed by the provincial government, dates from 2018, making it one of the few Western traders with such tie-ups in China, the world's top crude oil buyer and second-largest importer of LNG.Alex Sanna…

Aquaculture: Inside the De Maas’ Offshore Fish Farm

As attention increasingly turns to ocean health and sustainability, an innovative new fish farm solution was deployed earlier this year when the De Maas’ Semi-submersible Spar Fish Farm (SSFF) became the world’s first offshore farm installed at an open ocean location exposed to tropical storms. MTR recently visited – virtually – with co-founder Philip Schreven for insight on the design and operation particulars of their innovation.How did you became involved in this unique niche of the maritime industry?Mark van Leeuwen and I founded De Maas in 2007 as an offshore oil and gas services company.