Tanker Market: Sun Sets on Japan Dirty Imports

The Japanese refining industry has been experiencing challenging circumstances for a number of years, with significant rationalisation of refining capacity, according to Weekly Tanker Market Report by Gibson Shipbrokers. Reform in the Japanese refining sector is not a particularly new story; however, in March 2017, a government directive will come into effect, forcing refiners to further boost efficiency, whilst enhancing output of higher value clean products such as diesel and jet fuel.
Milaha Profit Down for 2016

Qatar Navigation (Milaha), a maritime and logistics conglomerate based in Qatar, has reported a net profit of $195 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to $300 million reported the previous year. The fall in the profit was mainly as a result of lower revenue from our Port Services unit, which was affected by a drop in storage and general/bulk cargo revenue, and rate pressure in our Container Shipping unit, which still managed to grow its market share and volumes.
Fewer Bunkers in Rotterdam in 2016

In 2016 the sale of bunker oil - fuel for shipping - in the Rotterdam bunker port diminished from 10.6 million m3 to 10.1 million m3. There is no reason known for this decline. For the first time, ships bunkered a sea-going vessel with LNG, liquefied natural gas, in Rotterdam. Every year, some 11 million m3 of bunker fuel is supplied to vessels in Rotterdam. In Rotterdam, every imaginable fuel can be obtained in huge quantities.
Rossinavi Launches Endeavour II

Italian yard Rossinavi has launched its new 49.9-metre superyacht Endeavour II during a ceremony attended by 300 guests and shipyard staff. Known as project FR032, the yacht is built entirely out of aluminium to a design by Team 4 Design. Featuring exterior styling by Team For Design, naval architecture by Arrabito and interior décor by Salvagni Architetti, this displacement yacht comprises a total volume of less than 500GT. Up to 10 guests can sleep in the yatch , as well as a crew of 9.
NIMASA Repositions as Global Player

Nigeria would be hosting the 3rd Conference of the Association of Heads of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA Conference) in Abuja, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, from 19th -21st of April,2017 in a bid to continue to improve on its role as a global player in the comity of maritime nations. Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) director-general Dr. Dakuku Peterside has said…
Iran Stages Massive Navy Drill in Indian Ocean

Amid rising tensions with the US, Iranian naval forces have launched the final stage of a large-scale drill north of the Indian Ocean to enhance their defense capabilities, reports PressTV. Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari announced the beginning of the maneuver, code-named Velayat 95, on Sunday. The latest exercise, stretching from the Strait of Hormuz and Oman Sea to north of the Indian Ocean, marks the last phase of war games that started in 2016.
BOEM : Potential Cook Inlet Lease Sale

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) today announced it plans to offer approximately 1.09 million acres in Cook Inlet off Alaska’s southcentral coast in a proposed lease sale this year. Cook Inlet Oil & Gas Lease Sale 244, scheduled to take place in June 2017, would offer 224 blocks toward the northern part of the Cook Inlet Planning Area for leasing. The blocks stretch roughly from Kalgin Island in the north to Augustine Island in the south.
Wary of Trump unpredictability, China ramps up naval abilities

* China still lags U.S. BEIJING, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The PLA Navy is likely to secure significant new funding in China's upcoming defence budget as Beijing seeks to check U.S. dominance of the high seas and step up its own projection of power around the globe. China's navy has been taking an increasingly prominent role in recent months, with a rising star admiral taking command, its first aircraft carrier sailing around self-ruled Taiwan and new Chinese warships popping up in far-flung places.
Two rescued from Galveston Jetty

A Coast Guard aircrew plucked 2 men from the south Galveston Jetty Saturday morning, after their sailboat lost steering and ran into the rocks. At 9:06 a.m., the crew of the 27-foot sailboat called Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders for help. While they were on the phone, the sailboat’s anchor line parted and they were headed for the rocks with 15 to 20-knot winds. The watchstanders sent a Station Galveston boat crew to assist them…
ASV Global to demonstrate C-Worker 5 ASV at Ocean Business exhibition

ASV Global has announced it will be demonstrating its C-Worker 5 Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) at the Ocean Business exhibition in Southampton, 4-6 April 2017. Designed, built, and operated by ASV Global, C-Worker 5 is the ideal platform to support construction and survey operations in combination with cutting-edge hydrographic, positioning and communication systems from leading manufacturers such as Kongsberg Maritime.
NAVADMIN Soliciting Sailors for RDC Duty

The Navy is recruiting Sailors to become recruit division commanders (RDCs) at Recruit Training Command, the Navy's only boot camp, and Officer Training Command, as announced in the NAVADMIN 042/17 message, released Feb. 23. Chief of Naval Personnel, Vice Adm. R. P. Burke, in the message calls on Navy leadership to canvass their top-quality enlisted personnel and encourage them to consider RDC as their next shore duty choice. The job of an RDC is not easy shore duty.