Chinese Ships Illegally Selling Oil to North Korea
U.S. spy satellites have caught Chinese and North Korean ships illegally trading oil on the West Sea 30 times in the last three months, according to South Korean government sources. The reported smuggling comes in the wake of United Nations sanctions banning ship-to-ship trades with North Korea on the high seas since September. But according a report from The Chosun Ilbo, satellites images have since…
Rescuers Help Dolphins Escape Indonesian Circus
A dolphin protection group has helped to facilitate the confiscation, rehabilitation and release of illegally caught dolphins bound to be sold for Indonesia’s traveling circuses. The California based organization Dolphin Project said it received reports in mid December that three wild dolphins – two spinners and a bottlenose – were being held with more than 30 reef sharks in Karimunjawa, Indonesia in a shallow pool known for allowing visitors to take selfies with sharks.
What Hurricanes Teach Us About Energy Security
After a few years of relative calm, the 2017 hurricane season wreaked havoc in the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, causing widespread damage and human suffering, and exposing the vulnerabilities and strengths of American energy security. As the flood waters from Hurricane Harvey receded and Gulf coast residents embarked on the arduous road to recovery, the offshore energy industry took stock and counted its losses and blessings.
AIS, AtoN, MTS – and you
USACE and USCG collaborate to make inland waterways safer. The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), supported by Alion Science and Technology (Alion), has put forth considerable effort during the last two years to further extend the capabilities of the existing Automatic Identification System (AIS) network to improve the safety and efficiency of navigation along the inland rivers. The USACE…
Eni Begins Drilling Oil Well in Alaska's Beaufort Sea
Italian oil producer Eni this week began drilling a new well in U.S. waters off the north coast of Alaska, becoming the first company to do so since 2015, federal regulators said on Wednesday. The oil and gas firm is working from an artificial island in the Beaufort Sea about three miles off Oliktok Point in the Arctic Ocean. The well is expected to run more than 6 miles (10 km) long. The project could result in 20,000 barrels a day of oil production, according to regulator U.S.
Italy Rescues More Than 250 Migrants in Mediterranean
More than 250 migrants were rescued in the central Mediterranean during the night between Monday and Tuesday, Italy’s Coast Guard said. A statement said the migrants, in one large rubber dinghy and two small boats, were rescued in three missions by two ships, one from a non-governmental organization. Migrant arrivals to Italy have fallen by two-thirds year on year since July after officials working…
Cruise Ship Collides with Bridge in Germany
River cruise ship Swiss Crystal struck a motorway bridge over the Rhine River in Germany, injuring at least 25 on board, according to local media. The 100-meter-long Swiss river cruiser was carrying 129 passengers from Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg when it struck a pillar of the bridge head on near Duisburg on Tuesday evening. The vessel’s bow suffered significant damage. Police said most of the injuries were minor, and the four people taken to the hospital were released on Wednesday.
Ailing Bulker Crewman Medvaced in Annapolis
A crewmember reportedly experiencing stroke-like symptoms was medevaced from the bulk carrier Kang Hong in the Annapolis anchorage Tuesday. A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew from U.S.
Polish Sailor Survives 7 Months Adrift
A Polish sailor told local media that he survived seven months adrift in a broken-down vessel in the Indian Ocean. The 54-year-old Zbigniew Reket said he and his…
ClassNK Amends Shipbuilding Class Rules
Classification society ClassNK released amendments to its Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships on December 25, 2017.
Young Endeavour to join the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Fleet
STS Young Endeavour is joining a race on every sailor’s bucket list, the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. While the 44 metre brigantine won’t be chasing line honours, she will play an important support role acting as the standby radio relay ship. Lieutenant Commander Mike Gough, Commanding Officer Young Endeavour said the southern ocean could throw up many perils, so the role of the Royal Australian Navy’s sail training ship was important.
GoodBulk Opts for Six More CarVal Capesizes
Greek dry bulk owner Goodbulk informed that it expects to exercise the options to buy six more Capesize vessels for a price of USD 134.2 million. The purchase option was part of an agreement signed between Goodbulk and Carval Investors in October this year for a total of 13 Capezsize bulkers. "The option exercise is expected to be funded by a combination of cash on hand, availability under existing and new credit facilities…
Euroseas Takes Delivery of Container Vessel
Greek shipping firm Euroseas Ltd took delivery of M/V Akinada Bridge, a 5,600 teu post-panamax size container vessel built in 2001 in South Korea, which the Company had previously agreed to acquire. Following its delivery, the vessel will commence during the first week of January, a 50-120 day charter at a gross daily rate of $11,250. The sale of this vessel concludes the disposition of the vessels of Euromar LLC…
Diana Shipping to Continue TC with Glencore
Diana Shipping announced that through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has agreed to extend the present time charter contract with Glencore Agriculture B.V., Rotterdam, for one of its Panamax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Leto. The gross charter rate is US$12,500 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period of minimum 16 months to about 19 months. The new charter period is expected to commence on January 3, 2018.
INS Trishul Returns Home after Anti Piracy Patrol
India's INS Trishul has returned to Mumbai after completion of her four month long mission in the Gulf of Aden Region. The ship had left Mumbai in August 2017 for carrying out Anti Piracy Patrol in one of the most geostrategically sensitive regions of the world. The extended deployment of Trishul reflects the continued commitment of the Indian Navy to ensure security and stability in the key shipping…
D'Amico Announces Sale & Lease Back of MR Vessel
D'Amico Tankers (Ireland) signed a memorandum of agreement and bareboat charter contract for the sale and leaseback of the MT High Freedom, a 49,990 dwt medium-range product tanker vessel, built in 2014 by Hyundai-Mipo, South Korea for a consideration of US$ 28.0 million. D'Amico Tankers is an operating subsidiary of d’Amico International Shipping S.A., an international marine transportation company operating in the product tanker market.
BSEE Oversees Spudding of New Oil Well in Arctic
Italian oil producer Eni began drilling the new well off the north coast of Alaska, becoming the first company to do so since 2015, reports Reuters. "New oil exploration in Arctic federal waters is underway this week with the spudding of a new oil well from an existing man-made island in the Beaufort Sea. Two Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) personnel were on-hand Monday ensuring compliance with approved permits, federal regulations and safety standards as Eni U.S.
Kawasaki, Island Offshore Drop Shipbuilding Contract
Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has decided to terminate, by agreement with Island Navigator In KS, its shipbuilding contract for the top hole drilling/light well intervention vessel, Island Navigator. The yard state that is has been facing difficulties in its engineering process as well as with increases of material costs since the contract was signed. Combined with a common understanding that the environment surrounding the offshore development industry is…
Coast Guard, Partner Agencies Respond to NYC Ferry Grounding
Coast Guard and partner agency crews responded to a ferry aground with 27 people aboard near Rockaway Inlet, New York, Wednesday evening. The Flyer, an 80-foot New York City Ferry became stuck on a sandbar after departing from the Rockaway terminal at 5:15 p.m., en route to Wall Street’s Pier 11 at approximately 5:30 p.m. Boatcrews from Coast Guard Station New York, and Station Sandy Hook arrived on…
Colonial Pipeline Demand at 2-Month Nadir
Demand to ship gasoline on Colonial Pipeline has sunk to a two-month low as Gulf Coast supplies are increasingly being exported or sent to the Midwest rather than to the New York harbor, three sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. Colonial Pipeline Co, the largest U.S. fuel network, has consistently allocated space for at least the past two months, meaning demand has exceeded capacity on the pipeline.
