Port of Corpus Christi Inks Decarbonization Deal
The Port of Corpus Christi Authority has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) as part of the Port’s commitment to decarbonization and energy transition initiatives.The agreement between the two parties is intended to advance collaboration between the Port of Corpus Christi, NREL and Port tenants by identifying scalable energy transition and decarbonization projects that require techno-economic-analysis…
Port Houston's Container Surge Continues
Port Houston recorded its seventh consecutive month of double-digit container volume growth as increased consumer spending continues in the U.S.Container activity for September 2021 was 281,500 TEUs, up 11% compared to the same month last year, the port said. Year-to-date, TEUs are up 16% compared to 2020.Port Houston said its steel imports are also up, increasing 161% this month compared to September 2020 and are up 28% year-to-date.
Baltic Exchange Appoints Strategic Carbon Lead
The Baltic Exchange has appointed former RightShip Chief Executive Martin Crawford-Brunt as a Strategic Carbon Lead. The Baltic Exchange recently introduced carbon assessments alongside its spot dry bulk charter rate assessments and is expanding its role to support market mechanisms aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from the shipping sector.Baltic Exchange Chief Executive Mark Jackson said, “The Baltic…
Sam Pan Marine Orders Up to 12 CTVs from Strategic Marine
Singapore-based Sam Pan Marine Holdings Pte Ltd has ordered six Strat Cat 27 (SC27) crew transfer vessels (CTV) from Strategic Marine (S) Pte Ltd, with an option to build and deliver six more vessels.Sam Pan Marine Holdings has also appointed Strategic Marine Group as the exclusive commercial agent to provide commercial management services for the new CTVs, including marketing the vessels for bareboat…
Supply Chain Chaos Set to Extend Further, Port Operator ICTSI Says
The world faces "very prolonged" disruptions to shipping cargo flows, an executive at leading ports operator ICTSI said, as logistical headaches such as truck shortages weigh on backed-up supply chains and rebounding trade drives up volume.Major bottlenecks have formed across the globe in recent months due to a surge in demand for retail goods from people stuck at home under pandemic-related lockdowns…
Baltic Index Dry Snaps Eight-day Losing Streak
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index gained on Wednesday, after falling for eight straight sessions, supported by higher rates across all vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize vessels, rose by 37 points, or 0.8%, to 4,751.The capesize index rose 46 points, or 0.6%, to 7,275, breaking a losing streak of eight sessions.Average daily earnings for capesizes, which transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal,
Greece Wants 'Realistic' EU Green Policy for Shipping
EU shipping power Greece has told the European Commission that adding the industry to the bloc's carbon emissions trading scheme should be proportionate and tightly enforced to secure a level playing field for the European fleet in global markets.In a letter sent to Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that countries should also get back the revenue raised…
Reefer Shipping Exhibit Area Opens at Hamburg Maritime Museum
A new exhibition area on the subject of "Reefer Shipping - Transport of Perishable Goods" is attracting visitors to the International Maritime Museum Hamburg (IMMH). Starting October 19, 2021, this new part of the exhibition on deck 6 will present everything on the subject of reefer shipping, using the Hamburg Süd as an example. From the beginning of reefer shipping in 1877 to the present day, the…
Tenth Shell Tanker Joins Signal Maritime Pool
The Signal Group said Wednesday that its shipping arm Signal Maritime has taken commercial management of Silver London, its 10th Shell medium-range (MR) tanker,…
Chevron Books Edda Fides Accommodation Vessel for Wheatstone Work
Oil and gas company Chevron has chartered Edda Accommodation's Edda Fides offshore accommodation unit for operations support in Australia, starting in the second quarter of 2022.Currently on a charter with Norway's Equinor, mono-hull vessel Edda Fides will provide accommodation and associated facilities for up to 300 people for an upcoming turnaround maintenance event on the Wheatstone offshore gas processing platform…
Singapore Charges Two for Corrupt Bunker Trading
Singapore authorities have charged two individuals in court for alleged corruption in relation to the trade and supply of marine fuels, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said in a statement.Afzal Bin Mohamed Ekbar, a bunker trader at KPI Bridge Oil Singapore Pte Ltd at the time, had allegedly obtained at least $191,000 on multiple occasions between 2017 and 2018 from the director of Straits Bunkering Pte Ltd, Shafiq Bin Nezammuddin, as kickbacks for nominating Straits for the sup
LNG Carrier Rates More Than Double in Two Weeks
Tanker rates to ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) have more than doubled since the start of the month as a power crisis in Asia and Europe drives up demand for vessels, industry sources said on Tuesday.The daily charter rate for a tri-fuel diesel-electric (TFDE) vessel that can carry 160,000 cubic meters of LNG to Pacific basin ports rose to $202,500 a day on Tuesday, the highest since Jan. 15, according to data from Spark Commodities.For the same type of ship moving in the Atlantic basin…
Charter Extension for Solstad's Platform Supplier
Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has secured a contract extension for one of its platform supply vessels.In a brief statement on Wednesday, Solstad said that the one-year charter extension had been awarded to its 94,2-meter-long PSV Normand Server.The contract is now firm to January 2023, with two one-year extension options after that. Solstad did not say who the client was, nor did…
OMSA Announces Workforce Development Committee
The Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) on Tuesday announced the formation of the OMSA Workforce Development Committee and requested Members nominate professionals to the Committee. Like much of the international maritime industry, OMSA members are working to secure a sufficient number of mariners for their current operations, increased activity in traditional offshore markets, and the new offshore wind market.
Diana Shipping Forms Spin-off OceanPal
Dry bulk shipping company Diana Shipping Inc. announced Tuesday that, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, it has filed a registration statement on Form 20-F pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to effect a spin-off of three of the company’s older dry bulk vessels. OceanPal Inc., the newly formed subsidiary that will act as the holding company for the three dry bulk vessels, has applied to…
Muddy Water Dredging Orders New 24" Dredge from DSC
A newly formed dredging company has placed an order for what will be one of the largest dredges of its kind in the U.S. On October 12, Michael Kerns, President and CEO of Muddy Water Dredging, LP and Bob Wetta, President and CEO of DSC Dredge LLC, launched the project to build the custom 24” dual pump Marlin Class dredge to maintain U.S. navigable waterways.Muddy Water Dredging, LP (MWD) was established in late 2021 with corporate headquarters located in Orange, Texas. Co-owners Michael J.
Regulator Lays Charges Over 2018 Canada Oil Spill
The Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board said on Tuesday that it has laid three charges following a 2018 oil spill off Canada's Atlantic Coast.The board…
China, Russia Navy Ships Jointly Sail Through Japan Strait
A group of 10 naval vessels from China and Russia sailed through a strait separating Japan's main island and its northern island of Hokkaido on Monday, the Japanese government said, adding that it is closely watching such activities.It was the first time Japan has confirmed the passage of Chinese and Russian naval vessels sailing together through the Tsugaru Strait, which separates the Sea of Japan from the Pacific.While the strait is regarded as international waters…
Partners Launch New Hull Maintenance Service
HullWiper has joined forces with International Paint, a subsidiary of ship hull paint and performance coatings specialist AkzoNobel, and underwater drone ROV specialist Orobotix to provide ship owners and operators with comprehensive hull care support in a new partnership named Intertrac HullCare.The partnership offers high-performance coating schemes from International Paint tailored for different vessel types and operating profiles…
Shipping Industry Faces ESG Heat From Lenders
Banks are demanding much stricter environmental criteria when financing shipping companies as investor pressure grows on the sector to accelerate going greener, according to Boston Consulting Group (BCG).Shipping, which transports about 90% of world trade, accounts for nearly 3% of the world's CO2 emissions and BCG forecast the industry will need $2.4 trillion to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050."ESG-driven requests are already prompting more action from banks.