Excelerate, Equinor Perform First STS LNG Transfer
The first ever ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) was completed in The Bahamas by Excelerate Energy and Equinor Energy AS.According to Excelerate, which provides transportation and marketing of LNG, its floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) Exemplar and Equinor’s LNG carrier Arctic Voyager were used for the LNG transfer."A full LNG cargo was transferred using the double…
Sunken Stellar Daisy Located
The Stellar Daisy, a massive South Korean tanker that sank in March 2017, was spotted on the floor of the South Atlantic Ocean nearly two years later.Exploration company Ocean Infinity said that it has located the wreck of the lost South Korean tanker, Stellar Daisy, at a depth of 3,461 meters in the South Atlantic Ocean, approximately 1,800 nautical miles due west of Cape Town.Stellar Daisy sank on 31 March 2017, transporting iron ore from Brazil to China.
KHI Delivers New LNG Carrier
Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) delivered the Shinshu Maru, a 177,000 m3 capacity liquefied natural gas (LNG) transport vessel for use by Trans Pacific Shipping 7 Limited.Trans Pacific Shipping 7 is a joint venture between JERA Co., Inc. and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line)."This large-scale LNG carrier is equipped with four independent Moss LNG tanks for a total cargo capacity of 177,277 m3.
Polaris Bunkered in Finland
The world’s first LNG-fueled icebreaker, Polaris, received liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel in January from the Pori LNG import terminal and in February from the Manga LNG terminal located in the Röyttä Harbor in Tornio, Finland. The commercial use of the Tornio import terminal begins this year, said a press release from Nordic gas company Gasum.The gas and fuel market of Northern Finland will diversify as the commercial use of the Tornio import terminal begins this year.
Philippine Lenders Saves South Korea's Hanjin
The troubled South Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co said that it has reached an agreement with Philippine banks on debt-rescheduling for its Philippine affiliate HHIC-Phil, Southeast Asia’s largest shipyard by area size.Philippine creditors agreed to acquire shares of Hanjin Heavy, HHIC-Phil Inc., which operates the yard in Subic Bay, in return for solving surely obligations.
Lloyds Approves New Scrubber Technology
The Netherlands-based Value Maritime has received the International Air Pollution Prevention (IAPP) certificate from Lloyds for its scrubber system.A press release from the engineering and ship financing company said that most of the tests required to obtain certification had been performed during installation."Since the Value Maritime scrubber uses a new innovative technology, we had to further demonstrate its performance outside SECA in order to receive class approval…
DSME Bags LNG Carrier Order from Maran Gas
South Korea’s shipbuilding giant Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) has secured an order for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier from Greece-based shipowner.According to Yonhap News Agency the South Korean shipbuilder received an order to build an LNG carrier for Maran Gas Maritime, a unit of the Angelicoussis Shipping Group.The newbuilding - 174,000 cbm ship - is expected to be delivered to its owner by the first half of 2021.
Diana Shipping Sells Two Panamax Dry Bulkers
Diana Shipping announced that it has signed, through two separate wholly-owned subsidiaries, two Memoranda of Agreement to sell to two affiliated parties, the m/v Danae and m/v Dione, each a 2001-built dry bulk vessel, for US$7.2 million each.The global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels said in a press release that the sale of the Vessels was approved by disinterested…
Belfast Harbour Hits Record Cargo in 2018
The major maritime hub in Northern Ireland Belfast Harbour handled a record 24.6 million tonnes of cargo in 2018, up 3.8% on the previous year thanks to a major increase in the number of freight vehicles passing through the port, which rose to a high of 532,000, latest figures show."Growth was led by a strong increase in freight vehicle carryings on Stena Line’s services to Great Britain, rising by 3% to a record 532…
Anadarko, Bharat Petroleum Sign LNG Deal
American petroleum and natural gas exploration and production company Anadarko, on behalf of the Mozambique Area 1 partners, signed a deal with Bharat Gas Resources (BGR) for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) volumes from the Mozambique LNG development.The sale and purchase agreement (SPA) is for 1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) for a term of 15 years. BGR is a wholly owned subsidiary of Government of India controlled oil and gas giant Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd.
Gazprom to Start Gas Supply to China
Russian gas giant Gazprom will start supplying Russian natural gas to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline almost one month early than previously planned.Alexey Miller, Chairman of Gazprom Management Committee, said after the negotiations with representatives of Chinese partner CNPC in Beijing, “Construction of the Power of Siberia gas pipeline is going ahead of schedule, and Gazprom will start delivering gas to China well in advance…
Viking Jupiter Met with Minor Accident at Piraeus Port
Piraeus Port Authority S.A welcomed newly built cruise ship of Norwegian Viking Ocean Cruises' Viking Jupiter and handed an honorary plaque to the Cruise Director Mark Andrew Brignone and books for the ship's library.However, the Norwegian cruiser got into a minor accident while docking at a pier in the port.According to media reports, the cruiser with 607 passengers and 483 crew members on board was…
Groningen Seaports, Vopak Push Solar Power
The Dutch tank storage company Royal Vopak, Groningen Seaports and Whitehelm Capital announce their intention to jointly invest in a 27 MW solar park. The solar photovoltaic field will be one of the largest currently in the Netherlands.The new solar park will be situated on 19 ha of land adjacent to Vopak Terminal Eemshaven, land which is currently already leased by the terminal. The produced green…
Epic Gas Bullish on LPG Carriers Market
Global seaborne liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) volume is expected to grow by over 6% in 2019 and surpass 100 million tonnes for the first time.Singapore based provider of pressurised LPG vessels, Epic Gas said that it is well positioned to benefit from the improving fundamentals of the LPG shipping market.For the fourth quarter of 2018, freight levels for most sizes in the pressurised sector were similar to the stronger levels seen in the third quarter.
Panama Canal Appoints New Administrator
The Panama Canal Board of Directors announced the appointment of Ricaurte Vasquez as the next Panama Canal Administrator.According to a press note from the artificial 82 km waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean, Vasquez will take office on September 4, 2019, succeeding current Administrator Jorge L. Quijano, who concludes his seven-year term at the helm of the waterway.The decision was made by the Board of Directors in accordance to an independent…
Ecochlor Wins BWMS Contract with ATC
Alaskan Tanker Company (ATC) will retrofit the Ecochlor ballast water management system (BWMS) on board their fleet including three VLCC crude oil tankers and an option for one additional vessel. Each of these vessels are U.S. flag tankers with Zone 1 and Zone 0 hazardous areas.The Ecochlor BWMS is approved for installation in both US Flag and International vessels in hazardous areas rated Zone 1 or Zone 0 through their U.S. Coast Guard Type Approval certification.
Diana Fixes Crystalia, Maera with Glencore
Greek dry bulk owner Diana Shipping announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Glencore Agriculture B.V., Rotterdam, for one of its Ice Class Panamax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Crystalia.The gross charter rate is US$10,500 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period of minimum 14 months to maximum 17 months. The charter is expected to commence on February 23…
EIA: Azerbaijan Surges in Natural Gas
Azerbaijan is an important supplier of crude oil and natural gas in the Caspian Sea region, particularly to European markets, the US Energy Information Administration said in its report.The EIA’s report notes that Azerbaijan’s exports of natural gas are poised to become a more significant part of the country’s economy.Azerbaijan produced about 600 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of dry natural gas in 2017 and exported about 210 Bcf…
Oil & Gas M&A Deal Value Up in 2018
Global oil and gas total deal value increased by US$ 79.7b during 2018 to reach US$426.8b, despite a decrease of 18% in deal volume, said EY Global oil and gas transaction review 2018.It said that while the first two quarters of 2018 saw greater deal appetite aided by rising oil prices, caution returned in the second half of the year due to a decline in the oil price to 2015 levels.Looking ahead, the 2019 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) environment will likely be shaped by lower commodity prices…
Kenya Trains Maritime Security Officials
Maritime law enforcement officials from Kenya are taking part in a two week training course on best practices for visit, board, search and seizure of vessels, in Mombasa, Kenya (11-22 February).The multi-agency course brings together 30 officials to learn skills for effective coordination in combating maritime crimes and procedures used to successfully board and search a vessel of interest.The training…
