Five Navies Drill in South China Sea, So Does China
The armed forces of five countries conducted joint maritime exercises in a portion of the South China Sea on Saturday as China carried out its own military drills in the disputed waterway.The exercises involving the Philippines, United States, Australia, Japan and - for the first time - New Zealand took place in Manila's exclusive economic zone and sought to improve the militaries' interoperability…
Israel Bombs Yemen’s Hodeidah Port
Israel said it bombed Houthi targets in Yemen on Sunday, expanding its confrontation with Iran's allies in the region two days after killing the Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in an escalating conflict in Lebanon.The airstrikes on Yemen's port of Hodeidah were in response to Houthi missile attacks on Israel in recent days, Israel said, amid fears that Middle East fighting could spin out of…
Oil Barge Sinks in Venezuela, Killing Two
At least two people died and four were declared missing following the sinking of an oil barge operated by a contractor of Venezuelan state-run energy company PDVSA at Lake Maracaibo, PDVSA said on Thursday.Sources and an internal report from the company had indicated four fatalities from the accident earlier on Thursday. But PDVSA said rescue work to find the four missing people has not finished."PDVSA reports the unfortunate sinking of barge Chantase G of company SOSCA…
Second Phase of New Soo Lock Construction Completed
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District’s New Lock at the Soo project in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich, substantially completed Phase 2 (Upstream Approach Walls) contract on September 17.“Phase 2 work focused on rehabilitating the upstream approach walls to guide vessels into the New Lock and will allow the vessels to moor on the wall,” said Ryan Berkompas, New Lock at the Soo Project Engineer. “The old approach walls in the northern channel were the same age as the Sabin and Davis Locks…
Pacific Maritime Towboat Repowered
Pacific Maritime Group said its harbor towboat S. Bass has recently completed a full repower at Bay Ship in Alameda, Calif. and is back in action in San Diego, Long Beach and the Bay Area.The repower involved installing new EPA Tier 3 Mitsubishi S12R-Y3MPTAW engines, and Twin Disc 540 transmissions which were supplied by Dee Finley Diesel Repair, and installed new exhaust, water coolers, custom critical grade mufflers…
Heightened Security Alert for Israeli Ports as Maritime Industry Faces Increased Threats
Maritime security and industry groups raised the risk level for ships calling at Israeli ports on Friday, with terminals facing possible missile strikes from Lebanese group Hezbollah in the Mediterranean and Yemen's Houthis in the Red Sea.Earlier this week, the Israeli government's port authority issued a letter stating that terminals ranging from the southern port of Eilat on the Red Sea to the major…
Seakeeper Opens Dealer Training Site in Italy
Seakeeper, a developer of marine motion control systems, has launched a new training facility in San Salvatore, Italy. This European location will enhance training access for partners outside North America, helping to build a global network of skilled technicians to support Seakeeper’s expanding customer base.“Our dedication to continuous improvement goes beyond our products; it’s also about the people who support them,” said Seakeeper president and CEO Andrew Semprevivo.
Armed Gangs Attack Key Haiti Cargo Port
Land access to a vital supply port in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince is being closed off after attacks by armed gangs, operator Caribbean Port Services (CPS) said on Thursday."CPS will shut its barriers to all types of land-based traffic from Sept. 26 to Sept. 29," it said in a statement, saying that the suspension should allow the army and national police to secure the area.A shipping official told Reuters this week that ships were being shot at…
US Reports Uptick in Russian, Chinese Navy Activity Near Alaska
The U.S. Coast Guard is watching an "uptick" in Chinese and Russian navy activity around Alaska and the northern Pacific but encounters to date have been very professional, a senior commander said on Friday.Vice Admiral Andrew J. Tiongson, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area Commander, noted on a call with regional reporters while visiting Japan that his country and Russia share a maritime boundary line between Alaska and the Russian Far East"Russian naval vessels…
Spliethoff Orders Eight New L-Type Multi-Purpose Vessels
Dutch shipping company Spliethoff has placed an order with Wuhu Shipyard in China for the construction of a new series of eight multi-purpose vessels with an option for two additional vessels.This new series of L-type vessels will be delivered starting the first quarter of 2028.The L-type vessels are specially designed for the transportation of various dry cargo types, including paper products, bulk cargo…
EU Stakeholders Call for Tax Exception on Shore Power
The European Sea Ports Organization (ESPO) and The Federation of European Private Port Companies and Terminals (FEPORT) has called for an EU wide mandatory tax exemption for shore power in the EU’s revised Energy Taxation Directive.The groups say they fully support the European Green Deal ambition and the polluter pays principle.However, considering the European Commission’s proposal and the compromise text on the table in the European Council…
Report: Shipping Unlikely to Meet 2030 Targets
The global shipping industry is not on track to meet its target of having zero-emission fuels account for 5% of all fuels by 2030, according to a new report from the UCL Energy Institute, UN Climate Change High-Level Champions and the Getting to Zero Coalition.The third annual progress report, Progress Towards Shipping’s 2030 Breakthrough, warns that the next 12 months are critical to avoid shipping…
Gangs Unite and Attack Haiti Port
Land access to a vital supply port in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince is being closed off after attacks by armed gangs, operator Caribbean Port Services (CPS) said on Thursday."CPS will shut its barriers to all types of land-based traffic from Sept. 26 to Sept. 29," it said in a statement, saying that the suspension should allow the army and national police to secure the area.A shipping official told Reuters this week that ships were being shot at…
US Says New Chinese Submarine Sank Earlier This Year
China's newest nuclear-powered attack submarine sank earlier this year, a senior U.S. defense official said on Thursday, a potential embarrassment for Beijing as it seeks to expand its military capabilities.China already has the largest navy in the world, with over 370 ships, and it has embarked on production of a new generation of nuclear-armed submarines.A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity…
ABS OKs SHI's Liquefied Hydrogen Carrier Vessel Design
ABS issued general design approval (GDA) to Samsung Heavy Industries Co., LTD. (SHI) for its detailed design of a liquefied hydrogen carrier, a 20,000 cbm vessel with Type C tanks.“Hydrogen is a key enabler of the clean energy economy. In decarbonizing different industry sectors, hydrogen plays critical roles as a fuel, feedstock, energy storage and load balancing. As the demand for hydrogen grows…
ZF’s New Tech Meets Evolving Demands
ZF has long offered propulsion products for hybrid and electric marine applications. Now, as the demand for green technology grows across many vessel segments, the company has recently rolled out a pair of new transmissions optimized for hybrid and electric propulsion systems in high-speed vessels like pilot boats, ferries and water taxis.ZF’s 3000 NRD PTI has been unveiled as a space- and weight-saving solution for hybrid propulsion in waterjet vessels…
Why Compulsory Pilotage Is So Effective
When asked why pilots(1) are so effective, most say, “They know the local waters.” While true, there are other important factors that make pilotage so effective.Compulsory pilotage is navigation safety regulation, and by far the most effective mechanism available to governments to protect the marine environment while facilitating maritime commerce(2). Pilotage regulations are so effective because,…
Singapore Boosts Undersea Might with Two New Submarines
Singapore commissioned two new advanced submarines on Tuesday, vessels its navy says are meant to protect sea lines of communication, and which experts said would range beyond the waters of the tiny city-state to keep tabs on the region.The country's fifth and sixth submarines, the Invincible and the Impeccable, were ordered from Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems in 2013 in a 1-billion-euro deal…
LNG Cruise Vessel Star Princess Launched at Monfalcone Shipyard
Star Princess, the second liquefied natural gas (LNG) cruise ship that Fincantieri is building for Princess Cruises, was launched at the Monfalcone shipyard in Italy.A long list of dignitaries were on hand for the festivities, inlcuding John Padgett, President of Princess CruisesCristiano Bazzara, Director of the Fincantieri shipyard in MonfalconeGodmothers of the ceremony: Chiara del Vecchio, 3rd Engineer aboard the “Sun Princess”…
Baltic Index Hovers Near Three-month High
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index rose to its highest in close to three months on Thursday, propelled by higher rates in the capesize vessel segment.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, rose 75 points to 2,091 points, hitting its highest since July 2.The capesize index jumped 265 points to 3,580 points, its highest since early July.Average daily earnings for capesize vessels, which typically transport 150,000-ton cargoes such a
