Laguna News

A cargo of Russian oil bound for Cuba's Matanzas terminal has been diverted to a smaller port, following a spectacular fire that destroyed a large portion of the island's main oil terminal, vessel monitoring data showed on Thursday.Lengthy power blackouts have followed the fatal blaze, which killed one firefighter and left 14 others missing. The outages are a sign of how the accident is aggravating a long-standing energy crisis due to an obsolete power grid and lack of fuel.The Liberia-flagged tanker NS Laguna carrying 700…

An inferno at Cuba's largest oil storage facility has killed at least one firefighter, injured many more, and threatens to further swell the fuel import bill for the impoverished island nation that relies on foreign oil for everything from transportation to its power grid.Cuban officials may need to scramble to set up expensive floating storage capacity to handle imports aimed at easing an acute fuel scarcity, sources and experts said on Monday.Cuba relies on the 2.4-million-barrel Matanzas terminal…

Unsecured openings in the deck of a towing vessel led to its flooding and sinking off the coast of Puerto Rico, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Thursday.The agency's latest marine investigation report details the NTSB’s investigation into the December 24, 2020, flooding and sinking of the towing vessel Proassist III near Puerto Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. The towing vessel was transiting northbound off the coast of Puerto Rico when its stern compartments began flooding. The three crewmembers on board were unable to pump out the water and eventually abandoned the vessel.

Beaches in a southern California city that were shut because of an oil spill last week are set to reopen on Monday morning, authorities said in a statement.City and state beaches of Huntington Beach city will reopen as water quality testing showed no detectable amounts of oil associated toxins in ocean water, officials from the city and California State Parks said.Last week, some 3,000 barrels (126,000 gallons) of crude oil spilled into the Pacific Ocean, killing wildlife, soiling the coastline and forcing officials to close beaches in the cities of Huntington Beach…

A section of the oil pipeline that burst off the Southern California coast was displaced 105 feet (32 meters) across the ocean floor, officials said on Tuesday, fueling speculation that a ship's anchor may have caused the environmental disaster.The revelation came as the U.S. Coast Guard and drilling company Amplify Energy Corp came under further scrutiny about the time it took to respond to the spill, amid reports that mariners first reported seeing oil in the water on Friday night…

The pilot channel connecting the Bahia Grande tidal basin and the Brownsville Ship Channel will be closed until the Fall for major enhancements to increase tidal exchange and restore the Bahia Grande as a major fish, wildlife and waterfowl nursery, the Port of Brownsville announced.Access to the narrow waterway, also known as the Carl “Joe” Gayman channel, will be closed to the public beginning May 1, 2021 through early November when the project is expected to be completed.The Bahia Grande is a 10…

The Batangas International Port or locally known as the Batangas Pier in Philippines said that  Batangas Container Terminal (BCT), managed by listed Asian Terminals Inc.(ATI), has continuously stepped up its role as international trade facilitator in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and has effectively helped decongest Metro Manila roads.Early in November, BCT achieved a new operations milestone as it broke through the 200,000-TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) cargo volume mark for the first time in a single year since its start-up in 2010.With this achievement and still a month to go before 2018 ends, BCT already surpassed its full-year cargo throughput of over 197,000 teus in 2017.

The Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s (ICTSI) flagship operation and the Philippines’ largest container terminal, capped 2016 with a milestone as it reached its first year-to-date two millionth TEU move last December. The MICT has an annual capacity of 2.75 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). The two millionth TEU container was offloaded from SITC Osaka, which is operated by Chinese megaliner SITC Container Lines. The container vessel originated from Ningbo in China. SITC is one of MICT’s longtime clients with regular vessel calls to the Port of Manila. MICT reached its first one million-TEU move back in December 2002. A ceremony held to commemorate the milestone was led by Christian R.

1907 - A U.S. Marine Corps detachment from the patrol gunboat Paducah serves ashore at Laguna, Honduras, to protect Americans during a war between Honduras and Nicaragua. 1942 - The U.S. Navys Task Force 99, which consists of USS Wasp, USS Tuscaloosa and USS Wichita, plus four destroyers, sail from the Royal Navy base at Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, as part of the mixed U.S.-British force Distaff, to provide cover for Russian convoy at Iceland. 1944 - German torpedo boats attack U.S. Navy LST convoy in Lyme Bay during Operation Tiger training for the Normandy Invasion.

International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) today reported unaudited consolidated financial results for the first nine months of 2015 posting revenues from port operations of US$792.0 million, an increase of two percent over the US$779.2 million reported for the same period last year; Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) of US$339.5 million, four percent higher than the US$326.1 million generated in the first nine months of 2014, and net income attributable to equity holders of US$136.2 million, up 0.3% over the US$135.7 million earned in the same period last year. Diluted earnings per share for the period was one percent lower at US$0.0550 from US$0.0556 in 2014.

International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s (ICTSI) dry port unit, Laguna Gateway Inland Container Terminal (LGICT), recently broke ground to start the expansion of new facilities which include extended and dedicated storage areas for loaded and empty containers, a runway for rubber tired gantries (RTG), container care facilities, weigh bridges at the gates and an upgraded access road, as it primes the Laguna dry port for the revival of intermodal freight transport in the Philippines. The expansion works, which is Phase 1 development of LGICT, commenced after groundbreaking and time capsule lowering ceremonies attended by officers and staff of ICTSI and LGICT, representatives from joint venture partners Transnational Diversified Group and Nippon Container Terminals Co.

Batangas Container Terminal (BCT) set a new record in 2014 for containers handled, says its operator Asian Terminals, Inc. (ATI). Port handled over 98,000 twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) in 2014, its highest total ever. The port operator added that BCT ended 2014 with consolidated throughput of 1.02 million TEUs, up 8.6%. BCT has continuously expanded its role as a comprehensive gateway for Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), providing shippers direct connectivity to Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia and other global hubs through vessels regularly calling the port weekly. Building on the momentum…

The delivery ceremony and reopening of the Caravel La Niña III, faithful replica of the ship of Columbus, the Caravel “La Niña III“ was held yesterday in the city of Las Palmas. Las Palmas is part of the network of Columbian cities of Spain, it is a symbol of the discovery of America, the pass of Christopher Columbus over the island of Gran Canaria and benchmark their contribution to the expansion of the Canary Islands, for its strategic location as a bridge between America, Europe and Africa. This replica of the Caravel “La Niña” was built in 1992 for the V centenary of the discovery of America. Zamakona Yards has led the restoration project of the same in cooperation with ground forces in a unique example of public-private initiative and corporate social responsibility.

OW Bunker owes financers more than $750 million-creditor data; six more vessels arrested; 7 in total. The Singapore arm of bankrupt Danish shipping fuel trader OW Bunker will meet with its liquidator KPMG in early December to discuss the firm's outstanding debt, which totals almost $1.5 billion globally. OW Bunker, a leading supplier of marine fuel oil known as "bunker", filed for bankruptcy in Denmark earlier this month after it revealed losses of at least $125 million at one of its Singapore-based subsidiaries Dynamic Oil Trading, sending the bunker fuel market into turmoil. Oil firms have stepped up legal action against OW Bunker's Singapore units since the announcement with the arrest of ships, now totalling seven, Singapore court documents show.

Fuel barge Laguna, carrying oil sold by Hin Leong to OW Bunker, arrested. Total claims against OW Bunker Far East and Dynamic Oil now over S$5 mln. Oil firms stepped up legal action against the Singapore units of bankrupt ship fuel trader OW Bunker with the arrest of a ship fuel delivery barge Laguna on Wednesday and claims totalling more than S$5 million. Court documents seen by Reuters showed that the overall amount of claims made against OW Bunker Far East (Singapore) and Dynamic Oil Trading, both Singapore-based subsidiaries of the Danish firm, over unpaid supplies now total around S$5.3 million ($4.11 million) made by nearly half a dozen companies. Law firm Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP issued a writ of summons on Nov. 8 on behalf of Hin Leong Trading against O.W.

As part of its “Our Marvelous Oceans” partnership with Marine Conservation Institute, Holland America Line has created a new program that highlights and educates guests and crew about marine protected areas around the world. Developed with the team at Marine Conservation Institute, the program will educate guests and crew through on-board presentations by shipboard personnel. Topics will cover what a marine protected area is and how to visit one without causing harm to the habitat and wildlife. This information can be enhanced through participation in featured shore excursions. “The goal of this partnership is to promote marine protected areas around the world — especially in those regions where our ships sail.

Agip has recently rebranded as Eni, while simultaneously announcing plans to increase penetration of its lubricant brands in North America across all industries. Gianfranco Mosconi (above) President and CEO of Eni USA R&M Co., shares the vision behind the strategy. Gianfranco Mosconi, with a Bachelor in Civil Engineering and a Master’s in Hydraulic Engineering, has been working for Eni since 1984. He started in charge of the Logistics Department; transferring to the Lubricants Business Unit were he has been in charge for Production Department and then the Supply and Sales Departments.

Below is a list of recent vessel sales prepared by Shipping Intelligence, Inc. as of August 1, 2013. Sale prices are listed in millions USD. 7/29/13 - GREAT SUMMIT - 33,700 - 05/8 - $16.

The Port of San Diego celebrated the inaugural visit of Grieg Star's 'Star Laguna' with a plaque exchange ceremony. The Star Laguna, one of the newest cargo ships visiting San Diego, called at Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, where it offloaded 10,000 tons of fertilizer and four yachts. Owned by the Grieg Star shipping company based in Bergen, Norway, the Star Laguna will make regular visits to San Diego. "The Port's cargo business makes an important contribution to our region's economic prosperity as part of the worldwide system of goods movement…

Mercy Ships, the charitable hospital ship foundation, is delighted to announce the leadership gift of $20 million from Laguna Beach philanthropists, Sue and Bill Gross. The funds are designated toward a new hospital ship, currently in the design phase, to join the current hospital ship, the Africa Mercy , in delivering hope and healing to the underserved poor. In honor of this generous donation, the hospital onboard the new ship will be named the Sue and Bill Gross Healing Hospital.

More than 600 people responded to the appeal launched by the Cruise Venice Committee, the Association which promotes and supports the Laguna’s cruise industry. Porters, mooring, security and tourism operators of the city gathered at the passenger terminal to support the cruise industry, an excellent production sector for Venice, which has made the city Europe's main homeport. The picture shows a meaningful moment of last week’s event, which involved qualified businesses representing the economic activity directly or indirectly generated by the cruise industry…

QGOG Constellation announces the arrival in Brazil waters of the ultra-deepwater drillship, 'Amaralina Star'. 'Amaralina Star' is to be operated by its subsidiary, Queiroz Galvão Óleo e Gás (QGOG). The unit was built to operate in ultra-deepwaters to water depths of up to 10,000 feet and to drill wells depths of up to 40,000 feet. It will be able to operate in the Brazilian pre-salt area. The Amaralina Star was built by the Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard, in South Korea. The shipyard is also currently building the Laguna Star drillship, which belongs to QGOG Constellation and will be operated by QGOG. The two units have been chartered to Petrobras under a six-year contract, with options to renew for six additional years. Drilling services will be provided by QGOG.

Over 1,300 seafaring officers and crew attended INTERTANKO’s Seafarers’ Vetting Seminar held last week at the NYK-TDG Maritime Academy in Laguna in the Philippines. The packed auditorium demonstrated the need and the desire for up-to-date and practical information on tanker vetting –successful vetting inspections are a crucial part of the commercial operation of any tanker. The seminar was conducted in response to INTERTANKO’s focus on the human element and the emphasis by INTERTANKO’s Vetting Committee that all seafarers should be actively involved in the ship inspection process.