Maritime Law & Regulations News

Aboard USS BOXER in the Arabian Sea, a U.S. Harrier fighter jet takes off from the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer in the Arabian Sea as an oil tanker passes, a nautical mile away.The patrol is "standard" but the situation - growing tension between the United States and Iran - is not.Soon after the roar of the Harrier fades, two combat helicopters and two unmistakable Osprey aircraft with their tiltable rotors land back on the flight deck."We want to make sure that we assure allies in the region and to ensure freedom of navigation and free flow of commerce…

Iran has seized a foreign tanker smuggling fuel in the Gulf, state television quoted Iran's Revolutionary Guards as saying on Thursday."A foreign vessel smuggling one million litres of fuel in the Larak Island of the Persian Gulf has been seized," the station said, adding that the ship was seized on Sunday.The Revolutionary Guards said the impounded vessel - which Iranian authorities have not yet named - was the same one it towed after it sent a distress call."The vessel that Iran towed to its waters after receiving a distress call, was later seized with the order from the court as we found out that it was smuggling fuel," the Guards said in a statement quoted by state television.The Guards said they had seized no other ship in the Gulf.Iranian navy vessels came to the assistance of a disa

U.S. Central Command chief General Kenneth McKenzie said on Thursday it was talking to other countries about freedom of navigation in the Gulf and would work "aggressively" to find a solution to enable free passage.The United States has beefed up its military presence in the Middle East over a perceived Iranian threat and is asking allies to help protect strategic waters off Iran and Yemen, following attacks on oil tankers in Gulf waters in recent months."We are currently talking…

Top Ships, a provider of oil, petroleum products and chemicals transportation services, has concluded a financing agreement with an undisclosed Chinese financier to refinance one of its MR2 tankers.The  Greek tanker owner and operator said in a press release that the gross proceeds from the new financing amount to $25.6m and will be used mainly to refinance the facility of M/T Stena Weco Excellence with Nord LB.The tenor of the new facility is 10 years, it added.The company also announced that it intends to enter into 2 additional Financing Agreements with the same financier at similar terms…

Germany is the latest country to accede to International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s treaty for safe and environmentally-sound ship recycling – the Hong Kong Convention.The Convention covers the design, construction, operation and maintenance of ships, and preparation for ship recycling in order to facilitate safe and environmentally sound recycling, without compromising the safety and operational efficiency of ships.Under the treaty, ships to be sent for recycling are required to carry an inventory of hazardous materials, specific to each ship.

Sweden's Alfa Laval reported a fall in quarterly orders on Wednesday on weaker-than-expected demand for ship exhaust cleaners and pumping systems, sending its shares sharply lower.Demand for so-called scrubbers which strip out sulphur from marine fuel has boosted the engineering group as well as Wartsila in the past few years as shipowners prepared for stricter sulphur emissions regulations from next year.Chief Executive Tom Erixon forecast higher sequential demand for Alfa's…

Global shipping remains challenged as the IMO continues down its path of setting ambitious decarbonization targets by 2030 and 2050.The Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), a key component of the IMO's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sets minimum energy efficiency design requirements for different ship types and sizes.Bulk carriers and tankers, in particular, will be challenged to comply with upcoming Phase 2 and Phase 3 implementation.This EEDI Phase 3 Compliance Debrief provides insights into:Current EEDI regulationsThe compliance landscape for bulk carriers and tankers in the con

Shippers trying to minimise time in the Middle East after oil tanker attacks pushed up insurance costs are scaling back purchases of marine fuels from the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Fujairah oil hub, trade sources said.Instead, they are turning primarily to Singapore, the world's top refuelling hub, to buy marine fuels, also known as bunkers, with some diverting to smaller bunkering ports, including in India and Sri Lanka, the sources said.A tonne of 380-centistoke (cst) high…

British Prime Minister Theresa May will meet with Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo later on Wednesday to discuss the detained Iranian oil tanker Grace 1, a spokesman for May said.The tanker was seized earlier this month by British Royal Marines off the coast of the British Mediterranean territory of Gibraltar on suspicion of violating sanctions against Syria.May and Picardo will also discuss Brexit, the spokesman said.Reporting by Elizabeth Piper

Shipping companies are hiring unarmed security guards for voyages through the Middle East Gulf as an extra safeguard after a wave of attacks in the region, security companies involved said.Relations between Iran and the West are increasingly strained after Britain seized an Iranian tanker in Gibraltar this month. Britain also said last week that one of its warships had to fend off Iranian vessels seeking to block a UK-owned tanker from passing through the Strait of Hormuz.As the risk of escalation grows…

U.S. officials say they are unsure whether an oil tanker towed into Iranian waters was seized by Iran or rescued after facing mechanical faults as Tehran asserts, creating a mystery at sea at a time of high tension in the Gulf.The MT Riah disappeared from ship tracking maps when its transponder was switched off in the Strait of Hormuz on July 14. Its last position was off the coast of the Iranian island of Qeshm in the strait.Iran says it towed a vessel into its waters from the strait after the ship issued a distress call.

Two installations from Spirit Energy’s ST-1 in the North Sea have arrived at the Dales Voe decommissioning facility in Shetland, Scotland, with works set to be carried out by partners Veolia and Peterson.The 45-metre high 1,300 tonne steel jacket and 1,200 tonne topsides structure arrived into Dales Voe in Lerwick.The structures will be dismantled and disposed of by partners Veolia and Peterson. Now at the end of their working life recovering these platforms is important to maximize the value of the materials and assets they contain…

Global marine coatings market to grow at a steady rate of 3.5% from 2018 to 2025 and reach $9.34 billion by 2025, said Frost & Sullivan.The Asia-Pacific region is expected to dominate the market owing to its large base of shipbuilding and dry-docking facilities, it added.The analysis reveals that the increased development and adoption of more environmentally sustainable and durable antifouling coatings using higher priced chemistries such as silicones and fluorosilicones will…

Norwegian shipping and tank terminal company Odfjell SE has finalized the sale of its indirect 55% equity stake in Odfjell Terminals Jiangyin (OTJ), China.Reference is made to the stock exchange announcement of May 8th, 2018, in which Odfjell SE (Odfjell) announced that Lindsay Goldberg (LG) is considering a sale of its 49% shareholding in Odfjell Terminals BV.After LG completed the sales of its shareholdings in the US and European terminals, LG is now in the process of selling its shareholding in the Asian terminals.

The number of hijackings and armed attacks on ships sailing off Nigeria has dropped according to new figures from the International Piracy Reporting Centre, IMB.Fire shots at ships, assault and hostage taking of crew members. Pirate attacks have long been a serious threat, creating insecurity for both crew members and shipping companies. But new figures now show that the number of pirate attacks is declining.Globally, 78 cases of piracy and armed robbery against ships have so far been registered…

International Maritime Organization (IMO) informed that South Africa has become the latest country to accede to a key compensation treaty covering the transport of hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) by ship.According to the UN body, when in force, the treaty will provide a regime of liability and compensation for damage caused by HNS cargoes transported by sea, including oil and chemicals, and covers not only pollution damage, but also the risks of fire and explosion, including loss of life or personal injury as well as loss of or damage to property.An HNS Fund will be established…

Veson Nautical announced new features designed to help users navigate the IMO 2020 Sulphur cap regulations set to take effect January 1, 2020. Upon release, the new features will become a standard part of the Veslink IMOS Platform, Veson’s market-leading cloud solution for commercial marine freight and fleet management.The IMO 2020 regulations are designed to reduce marine sector emissions in international waters by 80% starting Jan 1, 2020. As more fuel grades enter the market and the shipping industry prepares for change…

Ten Turkish sailors were taken hostage by armed pirates who attacked a Turkish-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Nigeria, the vessel's owner said on Tuesday, adding that another eight sailors were left safely aboard.Turkey's foreign ministry said the sailors were seized on Saturday evening. After the pirates left the ship it was taken to Ghana's Tema port, and Ghanaian and Nigerian authorities are working on returning the captured sailors, the ministry said.Shipping company Kadioglu Denizcilik said its ship…

Safe Bulkers, the provider of marine drybulk transportation services, announced that the first scrubber was successfully installed and commissioned on MV Martine, a Japanese, Post-Panamax class vessel, built in 2009.The US-listed operator of drybulk vessels for transporting bulk cargoes said that the scrubber is open loop, U-Type, Alfa Laval PureSOx and during commissioning has been tested in several loads complying comfortably with the stricter 0.1% sulfur fuel content limit…

"Just-In-Time" (JIT) operations have the potential to cut the time ships spend idling outside ports and help reduce harmful emissions as well as save on fuel costs.According to International Maritime Organization (IMO), this can be achieved by communicating in advance the relevant information to the ship about the requested time of arrival - allowing the ship to adjust to optimum speed. A desktop trial in Just-In-Time ship operations has yielded positive results, showing emissions…

The technology group Wärtsilä has again been selected by the Netherlands-based shipbuilding company Damen Shipyards Group to provide the main propulsion solutions for a large Marine Aggregate Dredger (MAD). The dredger is being built for the U.K. company Hanson Aggregates, a leading supplier of heavy building materials for the construction industry. The order with Wärtsilä was signed in May 2019.An identically designed vessel from Damen, which is expected to begin operations within the coming few months, is also fitted with the same Wärtsilä solutions.

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index hit a five-and-a-half-year high on Monday on the back of strong demand for capesize vessels shipping iron ore.The Baltic index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities, rose 3.4%, or 63 points, to 1,928, its highest since January 2014. The index has tripled since February. The index rose 7.2% last week for a fourth straight week, mainly driven by strong demand for vessels that ship iron ore from Brazil.A restart of Vale SA's Brucutu mine in Brazil in June…

Marine and offshore equipment and services form MacGregor announced on Monday it has received a clearance decision from the Chinese competition regulator, SAMR, for the company’s acquisition of the marine and offshore businesses of TTS Group ASA. Based on revised estimates, potential cost synergies are estimated to be around EUR 25-30 million on annual level.MacGregor, part of Cargotec, had previously announced approvals from German and South Korean authorities in November and December 2018 respectively…

Saudi Aramco's King Salman Energy Park (SPARK) and Dubai-based Oilfields Supply Center Ltd. (OSC) signed an agreement to establish OSC as an anchor tenant at SPARK.OSC will develop a business incubator called the Common User Supply Base (CUSB) in collaboration with Saudi Aramco, to support the oil and gas industry in the Kingdom and the region, as well as help accelerate the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the energy sector.OSC plans to invest around USD 450 million over the next two years…

OceanWise, the player in marine environmental data acquisition, data management, GIS and other services,  announced its involvement in the recent iCoast renovation project.The iCoast website, found at www.icoast.co.uk, is an open access web application providing users the ability to quickly explore activities and plan days out at the Dorset coast.A simple map interface allows users select and view activities at the Dorset coast. Activities appear on the map as a small icon which can be queried to find out more information and add to the kitbag for later.

The U.S. Coast Guard has released dramatic video of the moment it captured a drug smuggling vessel in the Eastern Pacific.U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro (WMSL-755) returned to San Diego from its maiden drug interdiction mission Thursday with a record 39,000 pounds of cocaine seized from smugglers in the Pacific Ocean.The cocaine and 933 pounds of marijuana were seized during 14 drug interdiction and disruptions off the coasts of Mexico, Central America and South America during the past three months. The drugs have a combined street value of $569 million, Coast Guard officials said.

Greece’s largest lender by assets Piraeus Bank is eyeing a strategic partnership with a major Asian Pacific financial conglomerate that will help it provide financing to Greek shipping companies."This pioneering initiative forms part of Piraeus Bank’s continued commitment to the shipping community, through investment of international capital into existing opportunities and new financing to the shipping industry," said a press release form the bank.The initiative aims at positioning…

Japanese shipping major Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), the first company in Japan to issue sustainability bonds aimed at individual investors, has revealed interest and investor details of its new JPY 20bn ($185.7 million) “sustainability bonds” to fund its latest green initiatives.The funds raised will be used for several purposes, including establishing a maritime academy in the Philippines and installation of environmentally friendly equipment or scrubbers on board its vessels. The new bonds will be offered to both institutional and individual investors.

The benefits and implications of acceding to the 1996 London Protocol on the prevention of marine pollution by dumping of wastes and other matter in the South Asian Seas Region were discussed at a regional workshop in Dhaka, Bangladesh (10-11 July).According to a note from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the main objectives of the workshops were to inform relevant authorities of the benefits and implications of ratifying, implementing and enforcing the London Protocol.The…

Shipping companies sailing through the Middle East Gulf are being urged to avoid having private armed security guards onboard as the risk of escalation in the region rises, industry associations say.Relations between Iran and the West have become increasingly strained after Britain seized an Iranian tanker in Gibraltar last week and London said its warship HMS Montrose had to fend off Iranian vessels seeking to block a British-owned tanker from passing through the Strait of Hormuz.The most recent incidents followed a spate of attacks on tankers since May around the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, which the United States has blamed…

Gibraltar police said on Friday they had arrested the two second mates from the Iranian Grace 1 tanker which was detained last week on suspicion it was breaking European sanctions by taking oil to Syria.On Thursday, the captain and chief officer of the vessel were arrested."All four men are Indian nationals and they have been granted full legal assistance," Gibraltar police said in a statement.(Reuters, Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Stephen Addison)

Iran called on Britain to immediately release its oil tanker which British Royal Marines seized last week on suspicion that it was breaking European sanctions by taking oil to Syria, Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi told state news agency IRNA."This is a dangerous game and has consequences ... the legal pretexts for the capture are not valid ... the release of the tanker is in all countries' interest ...

New Orleans braced for severe flooding with residents told to hunker down as a growing tropical storm in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico headed for landfall late on Friday or early on Saturday as the first Atlantic hurricane of 2019.U.S. President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency for the state of Louisiana late on Thursday, hours after the region's oil production was cut by half as energy companies evacuated offshore drilling facilities and a coastal refinery.Tropical Storm…

Britain said on Friday it would deploy the destroyer HMS Duncan warship to the Gulf to replace HMS Montrose, maintaining a continuous presence there during a time of heightened tension in the region.Relations between Tehran and the West have been increasingly strained after Britain seized an Iranian tanker in Gibraltar and London said HMS Montrose had to fend off Iranian vessels which sought to block a British-owned tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz."As part of our long standing presence in the Gulf, HMS Duncan is deploying to the region to ensure we maintain a continuous maritime se

Gibraltar said its action last week to detain Iranian tanker Grace 1 was a decision it took on its own and not at the behest of any other state or third party, the territory's chief minister said on Friday."All relevant decisions in respect of this matter were taken only as a direct result of the government of Gibraltar having reasonable grounds to believe the vessel was acting in breach of established EU sanctions against Syria," Fabian Picardo told parliament."There has been…

Swiss-based shipping line MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is taking the opportunity to clarify and raise awareness of its zero-tolerance position on shark fin carriage, following a reported shark fin discovery earlier this year, involving a booking by another container carrier."MSC is proud to be implementing since several years a complete global ban on consignments of any type of shark fin and of endangered shark," said the global container shipping and a company in a press…

How do you deal with maritime crimes at sea - and how do you train others to do so? These are the skills being taught on the latest in a series of regional training of trainers courses on combating insecurity in the maritime domain.Participants from 18 countries have attended the course, at the Mohammed Bin Naif Academy for Maritime Science and Security Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (30 June - 11 July).Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar…

Hybrid powered expedition cruise ship MS Roald Amundsen continues to make history – as Hurtigruten has announced the first ever ship naming ceremony in Antarctica. Instead of the traditional bottle of champagne, MS Roald Amundsen’s explorer heritage will be honored by naming the vessel with a chunk of ice.The naming ceremony will take place this fall, as the first world’s first hybrid powered cruise ship makes her way to the white continent on her maiden Antarctica voyage."We…

In support of initiatives by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Bureau of Environment to make zero CO2 emissions in Tokyo, NYK has donated 14,027 tons of CO2 credits (excess reduction credits) acquired through energy conservation efforts in accordance with Tokyo’s Cap-and-Trade Program (total emission reduction obligation and emission trading scheme).In its medium-term management plan “Staying Ahead 2022 with Digitalization and Green” released in 2018, NYK announced the group’s intent to integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives into management strategy to positively address the tough issues that challenge our society.

A consortium of British companies, academia and government  formally established a new national center for maritime innovation and technology (MarRI-UK). The center, offering  development opportunities for the UK’s $45B maritime sector, is based at the University of Strathclyde, with hubs to be announced across the UK. The center will provide a collaborative innovation vehicle to jointly tackle innovation and technology challenges.The first area of collaborative focus is Clean…

Gibraltar police said they have arrested the captain and chief officer of the detained Iranian Grace 1 supertanker accused of violating EU sanctions on Syria and have seized documents and electronic devices from the vessel.Last week British Royal Marines boarded the tanker off Gibraltar and seized it on suspicion that it was breaking EU sanctions by taking oil to Syria."The investigation is still ongoing and the Grace 1 continues detained," police said in a statement on Thursday.(Reuters, Reporting by Costas Pitas and Michael Holden; editing by Stephen Addison)

Britain has recommended all British-flagged ships go to a heightened state of security in the Strait of Hormuz, Sky News reported on Thursday, citing unnamed maritime industry sources.A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "The Department for Transport, as competent authority, regularly provides Security Advice to UK and Red Ensign Group Shipping on how they should operate in areas of high risk." (Reuters, Reporting by William James, editing by Elizabeth Piper)

The Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty AGCS) Safety & Shipping Review 2019 provides a unique and in-depth look at the emerging risks facing international shipping stakeholders.Large shipping losses are now at their lowest level this century having declined by over 50% year-on-year, according to Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE’s (AGCS) Safety & Shipping Review 2019. The annual study analyzes reported shipping losses over 100 gross tons (GT). AGCS provides global marine and shipping insurance for all types of marine risk…

Port operator DP World plans to raise at least $700 million through conventional and Islamic bond issues on Thursday, documents issued by banks involved in the deal showed.Majority owned by the Dubai government, DP World plans to issue benchmark sukuk with a 10-year maturity. Benchmark bonds are generally meant to be over $500 million.The Islamic paper is being marketed with an initial guidance of around 230 basis points over mid-swaps.Barclays, Citi, Deutsche Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank…

The U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Safety Center has received new application for ballast water management system type-approval, according to a post on the Coast Guard Maritime Commons blog. The Marine Safety Center received its 27th application for type approval for the EcoGuardian ballast water treatment system manufactured by South Korean firm HANLA IMS Co., Ltd.MSC will review the application for compliance with U.S. Coast Guard regulations in 46 CFR 162.060 and issue a type approval…

Three Iranian vessels tried to block a BP-operated tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz but backed off when confronted by a Royal Navy warship, the UK government said on Thursday.Britain urged Iran to "de-escalate the situation in the region" after the British Heritage, a Suezmax oil tanker operated by BP under an Isle of Man flag, was approached."HMS Montrose was forced to position herself between the Iranian vessels and British Heritage and issue verbal warnings to the Iranian vessels…

Acentech, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based noise, vibration and acoustical consulting firm, has issued its final report to Transport Canada concerning the Quiet Ship Workshop held at the International Maritime Headquarters (IMO) in London.For Canada, this issue is part of a broader concern with the health of the oceans and waterways that surround the country and its marine eco-systems.Canada’s oceans are home to 42 distinct populations of whales, in particular, the Southern Resident Killer whale, the St.

Russian shipping company PAO Sovcomflot (SCF Group) has achieved significant CO2 emission cuts since taking delivery of the first of its “Green Funnel” LNG-fueled Aframax crude oil tankers last year.PAO Sovcomflot (SCF Group) has accumulated data showing that using LNG as a primary fuel for these large-capacity tankers enabled a 30 per cent reduction of CO2 emissions compared with similar vessels powered by traditional heavy fuel. This reduction exceeds the original design target values.Igor Tonkovidov…

International Maritime Organization (IMO) is working on best practices to prevent and reduce abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear."Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear can continue to capture and kill marine animals and may cause navigational hazards – as well as contributing to the global marine litter problem," the UN body pointed out.IMO is working closely with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on reducing marine plastic litter from fishing vessels, including fishing gear, as part of the IMO Action Plan on the Reduction of Marine Plastic Litter.

Nakilat said for the first half of the year ended June 30, 2019 that it achieved a net profit of $130 million compared to $122 million during the same period in 2018, an increase of 7%.Nakilat’s financial performance is driven by the acquisition of two additional Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carriers and one Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) in 2018 is among the main attributes to the positive financial results, as well as the increased volume of projects at Nakilat’s…

Newbuilding UpdateThe highlight for newbuild orders in the last 12 months must certainly be HMM’s mammoth order back in September 2018. The South Korean company placed en bloc orders at three top South Korean yards for almost $3 billion in total.• eight 15,300 TEU ULCVs from Hyundai• seven 23,000 TEU ULCVs from Daewoo• five 23,000 TEU ULCVs from SamsungThese huge orders equate to 20 new ULCVs at nearly 400,000 TEU total. Once live, the 23,000 TEU vessels will take the crown for…

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is aware that passenger cruise lines that called Cuba have amended itineraries to comply with amendments made to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations announced in the Federal Register on June 5, 2019.Passengers with questions related to a voyage they have booked should contact their travel agent and/or cruise line directly.Cruise passengers should always carefully read their ticket contract, which states the cruise line’s obligations with respect to canceled voyages.

The United States hopes to enlist allies over the next two weeks or so in a military coalition to safeguard strategic waters off Iran and Yemen, where Washington blames Iran and Iran-aligned fighters for attacks, the top U.S. general said on Tuesday.Under the plan, which has only been finalized in recent days, the United States would provide command ships and lead surveillance efforts for the military coalition. Allies would patrol waters near those U.S. command ships and escort commercial vessels with their nation's flags.Marine General Joseph Dunford…

A.P. Moller Holding, which controls Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk will acquire Danish wind turbine supplier KK Group, it said on Wednesday, in a first step into the renewable energy industry.The acquisition marks a new direction for the family-owned company, which has built its business on the shipping and oil industry.The parties declined to disclose the price of the deal. A.P. Moller Holding will buy KK Group, whose main activities are through KK Wind Solutions, from…

Tensions between Iran and the West have escalated since U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil exports took full effect and British naval forces seized an Iranian supertanker.Below is a timeline of recent incidents:May 2 - The United States, which withdrew from an international nuclear accord between Iran and global powers in 2018, ends waivers that had allowed some mainly Asian importers to continue buying Iranian crudeMay 5 - The United States says it is deploying an aircraft carrier strike group and bombers to the Middle East…

U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Area Port of Philadelphia seized the MSC Gayane Thursday following a record seizure of 20 tons of cocaine on June 17.Upon application from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania issued a seizure warrant for the vessel.On Thursday, July 4, CBP executed the warrant and seized the MSC Gayane. CBP has various seizure and forfeiture authorities under Title 19 of the United States Code (USC).“The MSC Gayane is the largest vessel seized in U.S.

The French Institute of Petroleum IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN) and compatriot multinational integrated oil and gas company Total announced that they signed a strategic R&D partnership yesterday, that includes an agreement to endow a chair at the IFP School, on carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) and technologies to curb CO2 emissions.According to a press note from the energy giant, the roughly EUR40 million partnership covers a period of five years.CCUS aims to reduce the cost of infrastructure and improve the CCUS chain’s energy efficiency to secure its large-scale deployment.

The dry bulk shipping company  DryShips has appointed financial and legal advisors to help its board members consider George Economou’s non-binding takeover proposal.The Greek ship owner and operator said in media release that its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, George Economou, has retained Evercore as its financial advisor and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP as its legal advisor.It also have appointed a special committee which is comprised of the independent and disinterested directors: George Kokkodis (Chair)…

Port authorities in Asia are getting ready to enforce IMO 2020 with the help of Hitachi High-Tech Analytical Science’s X-MET8000 handheld XRF analyzer.The Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation informed that it has recently delivered X-MET8000’s to both the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) as they get ready to enforce the IMO’s (International Maritime Organization) MARPOL Annex VI regulation that will come into force on 1 January 2020.The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore…

Government and private stakeholders have expressed their support for climate action in the Caribbean, with a focus on decarbonizing the shipping sector.According to International Maritime Organization (IMO),  during a regional workshop on Capacity Building for Climate Mitigation in the Maritime Shipping Industry, held at the Chaguaramas Campus of The University of Trinidad and Tobago (1-3 July), Caribbean maritime sector committed to decarbonization.The workshop, the second for the region…

Since its introduction to the market a mere three years ago, the SCHOTTEL azimuth Rudder EcoPeller SRE has delivered on a wide range of different applications for open sea and coastal operating conditions. In doing so, it has both shored up the ferry segment and moved far beyond it.In the ferry market, the SRE demonstrates its highly efficient and ecologically clean propulsion while also meeting the strict environmental regulations of the Norwegian market. As a result, SCHOTTEL has achieved a top market position there by providing propulsion systems for 16 ferries in various power ratings.

Wärtsilä reports it has achieved a new tech benchmark with the introduction of a hybrid installation for a bulk carrier, reportedly a maritime first.The system will be installed on the M/V Paolo Topic, a bulk carrier built at Onomichi Dockyard in Japan and managed by Marfin Management S.A.M. Wärtsilä’s hybrid power module, the Wärtsilä HY, is designed to deliver seamless integration and control of the technologies to be installed, with the ship’s various existing power production systems.  The integrated solution is expected to deliver a  reduction in fuel consumption and maintenance costs.

Since the founding in 2016, cyber defence company Naval Dome has won awards for its Endpoint cyber defense system and achieved the highest level of security certification from classification society DNV GL, helping to protect merchant ships, cruise ships and yachts from cyber-attack.In 2019, Naval Dome optimized Endpoint with a “Dashboard” App, providing maritime users with  a clear picture of the cyber status of all critical systems on board the ship, designed to allow users…

Coast Guard crews have suspended the search for one person missing after an explosion and subsequent fire at Delong Dock in Whittier, Alaska, Monday.An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, forward deployed to Cordova, searched by air while crews aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur and Coast Guard Auxiliary 336 also conducted a search for the missing person.Shortly after midnight, Coast Guard Sector Anchorage watchstanders heard the phrase "Whittier fire…

French family-owned maritime transportation group Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) is venturing into wind-powered shipping as the group sees the benefits of operational savings and a need for decarbonisation.LDA Group has become the latest member of the International Windship Association (IWSA) to help further the development of these primary renewable solutions.LDA President, Edouard Louis-Dreyfus, stated: "we are very excited by the development of wind solutions as a key answer…

SEA\LNG, a multi-sector industry coalition, created to accelerate the widespread adoption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel, has announced that the Port of Virginia has become the first port in the US to join them.A press release from the LNG body quoted Peter Keller, Chairman, SEA\LNG, as commenting: “We’re very pleased to welcome the Port of Virginia as our first US port member. The US has vastly increased its LNG export capacity since the industry really took flight in early 2016, inspiring development in LNG bunkering capabilities on the East and West Coasts.

IN a recent notice, the U.S. Coast Guard again warns of the importance of maintaining your guard on cyber security, on land and at sea.In February 2019, a deep draft vessel on an international voyage bound for the Port of New York and New Jersey reported that they were experiencing a significant cyber incident impacting their shipboard network. An interagency team of cyber experts, led by the Coast Guard, responded and conducted an analysis of the vessel’s network and essential control systems.

Stolt Tankers B.V. and DESMI Ocean Guard A/S has announced that Stolt Tankers has selected the CompactClean Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) for installation on Stolt Tankers’ existing fleet.The agreement is to provide more than 60  chemical tankers with the CompactClean BMWS by the end of 2023. Most of the ships will be retrofitted with two CompactClean BWMS, one for each ballast pump. This has the advantage that the ships will maintain full redundancy on their ability to ballast and de-ballast…

The technology group Wärtsilä and COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering the development of local production resources, thus ensuring further development and support of Wärtsilä’s exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) in the region. The agreement was signed in June 2019.By combining the experience, expertise and competence of the two companies, both of whom hold strong positions in the marine market, this partnership will create a ‘one-stop-shopping’ service for exhaust gas cleaning systems…

Naval forces from the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen foiled an attempted attack on a commercial ship in the Red Sea by the Iran-aligned Houthi group, a military spokesman said on Monday.A tweet by Saudi state television quoting Colonel Turki al-Malki did not name the ship or provide other details about the incident.Reporting By Stephen Kalin

Britain's detention of an Iranian tanker last week was a threatening and incorrect action, Iran's Defence Minister Amir Hatami said on Monday in a speech broadcast live on state television.Royal Marines seized the tanker on Thursday for trying to take oil to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions, a dramatic intervention that sparked Tehran’s fury and could escalate its confrontation with the West.Gibraltar received permission from its supreme court to hold the tanker for 14 days…

The Coast Guard is responding to three vessels that sunk on the Illinois River near Hardin, Illinois, Sunday.Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River received a report Friday of three tugboats and a deck barge that were tied together and began taking on water at mile marker 21 on the Illinois River.The sinking tugboats are holding approximately 4,850 gallons of diesel and oil.Sector Upper Mississippi River dispatched personnel to work with the tugboat company…

The Offshore Sector's Support of National Interests in Times of Crisis.Desperate Times Call for Diverse ResourcesIn 2017, North America was assaulted by significant weather events resulting in cascading humanitarian crises. Despite the substantial response from the U.S. maritime industry, a misconception arose that insufficient U.S. assets were available to support critical response activities in affected regions; in particular, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Public…

German container shipping company Hapag-Lloyd has decided to implement a global vessel risk surcharge (VRS) following recent maritime incidents in the Gulf of Oman.The container line said that operating costs for its services have increased in the Middle East Gulf region as a result of tanker attacks that took place in the Strait of Hormuz.Other major carriers including CMA CGM, X-Press Feeders, and NYK have already impose a war risk surcharge on cargo destined for the Arabian Gulf or Middle East region due to heightened tensions in the region.As of July 15…

Hamburg-based Buss Group has acquired SSC Wind from Wildeshausen with an aim to expand its services in the offshore and onshore wind markets.In future, the company will operate on the market under the company name Buss Wind Services GmbH.With this strategic step, Buss completes its portfolio in the wind sector. To date, Buss had focused on port logistics for offshore wind farms in the North Sea and Baltic Sea.Buss offers this service both in its own offshore terminals in Eemshaven (Netherlands)…

The UK maritime industry is taking a leading stand in the fight against the illegal use of Dangerously Weighted Heaving Lines (DWHLs) in UK ports and harbors, an issue spanning the shipping and ports sectors, said British Ports Association (BPA).To coincide with the Department for Transport’s important Maritime Safety Week 2019, #maritimesafetyweek, the British Ports Association, British Tugowners Association, Port Skills and Safety, UK Chamber of Shipping, UK Major Ports Group…

Bermuda-based international tanker company Nordic American Tankers Limited (NAT) has reiterated that it believes scrubbers are not a solution for the company based upon a conservative financial policy."NAT does not take on risk it does not have to," it said.An increased number of ports now prohibit or impose strict requirements on the use of scrubbers, which purify emissions from large ships.The scrubber cleans the exhaust from vessels for Sulfur and emit impure water into the sea, and that is what the ports now will put an end to.

Estonian shipping company Tallink Tallink Grupp has borrowed  EUR 197.6 million to finance the new EUR 247 million LNG powered fast ferry currently under construction in Rauma Marine Constructions Oy.The loan agreement was concluded between AS Tallink Grupp subsidiary Tallink Superfast Ltd. and KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH, the shipper said.The loan is arranged and long term financing is provided by KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH. Finnish Export Credit Agency “Finnvera” guarantees 95 per cent of this…

Gibraltar said on Friday it had obtained an order extending the detention of the Iranian Grace I supertanker by 14 days because there were grounds to believe it was breaking sanctions by taking oil to Syria."The Supreme Court has issued today's order on the basis that there are reasonable grounds to consider that the detention of the Grace 1 is required for the purposes of compliance with the EU Regulation 36/2012 on sanctions on Syria," the government of the British overseas territory on the southern tip of Spain said in a statement.Reporting by Paul Sandle

BMT announced the signing of a contract for two new 43 metre (104’ x 37’’ x 12.5’) high-speed, passenger Fast Ferries for Kitsap Transit, with an option for a third to be added to this vessel fleet. The custom design project will once again see the UK engineering design consultancy partner with US shipyard Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB) and will join the Kitsap Fast Ferry service in Seattle once completed. John Bonafoux, Business Development Director for Commercial Shipping…

Malta said on Friday it would take in 54 migrants rescued by an Italian charity boat off Libya this week, after Italy refused to let the vessel dock at one of its ports as it labours to shut down sea migration routes.However, in a convoluted game of cat-and-mouse that is pitting EU governments against each other and against the non-governmental rescue boats, Malta said it would dispatch to Italy a similar number of migrants already on its territory.Malta and Italy have frequently been at loggerheads over who should receive migrants rescued in the Mediterranean and both have closed their ports to NGO rescue ship unless agreement is reached for those on board to be transferred to other countries.A German charity ship…

Panama's Maritime Authority said on Thursday that Grace 1, a giant Iranian oil tanker seized by British Royal Marines in Gibraltar, was no longer listed in Panama's international boat registry as of May 29.The Panamanian authority added that Grace 1 had been de-listed after receiving an alert indicating that the ship had participated in or was linked to terrorism financing. Although the tanker flies a Panama flag, Iran claimed ownership and objected to the seizure of its ship. (Reporting by Elida Moreno; Writing by Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Anthony Esposito)

A.P.

An Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander threatened on Friday to seize a British ship in retaliation for the capture of an Iranian supertanker in Gibraltar by Royal Marines."If Britain does not release the Iranian oil tanker, it is the authorities duty to seize a British oil tanker," Mohsen Rezai said on Twitter.The Gibraltar government said the crew on board the supertanker Grace 1 were being interviewed as witnesses, not criminal suspects, in an effort to establish the nature of the cargo and its ultimate destination.British Royal Marines abseiled onto the ship off the coast of the British territory on Thursday and seized it. They…

The marine mutual insurer Swedish Club has introduced the next generation of Loss Prevention. It means that shipowners can now be offered real time personalized loss prevention, tailored to their location, and voyage profile.Trade Enabling Loss Prevention (TELP) allows The Swedish Club to use a combination of the latest automatic identification system (AIS) technology coupled with solid statistics and expertise built up over years to map a risk profile for an individual vessel at every stage of its voyage…

Woodfibre LNG, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility planned for Howe Sound on the southern B.C. coast,  has received its facility permit from the British Columbia (BC) Oil and Gas Commission (OGC).“Following a rigorous process, Woodfibre LNG has received our Facility Permit issued from the BC OGC, one of the key permits required for construction and operation of the project. This is a positive step forward as we work to build the cleanest LNG export facility in the world…

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) informed that the Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III) brings together flag, port and coastal States, together with observer delegations, to consider implementation issues.At its sixth session (1-5 July), the Sub-Committee is expected to finalize updates to key instruments which assist in implementation, said the UN body.The key instruments include the updated Survey Guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification…

Finnish shipping technology group Wartsila has merged its Puregas Solutions and biogas liquefaction teams to form a new Biogas Solutions unit that will offer its customers a ‘one-stop-shop service’ for advanced biofuel production.Wärtsilä Biogas Solutions, a unit with expert capabilities in liquefying upgraded biogas for end-customer use, offers products for biogas upgrading to biomethane, and the liquefaction of biomethane into bioLNG."Currently, our market share in this field is almost 60 percent…

China's Ministry of Transport has raised its security recommendation for Chinese vessels in the Malacca Strait, a major potential bottleneck for global oil, to the highest level, according to a notice dated July 2 sent to shipping companies.The level for Chinese vessels passing through and going to the strait was raised to "3" as of 10 p.m. on July 2 (1400 GMT), according to the notice, whose authenticity was confirmed by an official at the ministry.It said shipping firms "should…

Singaporean rig builder Sembcorp Marine said on Wednesday that authorities had searched its shipyard in Brazil as part of a graft investigation, sending its shares lower and underlining the staying power of Brazil's ongoing "Car Wash" corruption probe.Sembcorp Marine said the search was related to investigations against former consultant Guilherme Esteves de Jesus, adding that Martin Cheah Kok Choon, the former president of the Estaleiro Jurong Aracruz shipyard, was also under investigation.In a separate statement…

The United Nations has approved the release of two ships impounded by South Korea on suspicion of transferring oil to North Korea as there was no deliberate breach of sanctions, Seoul's foreign ministry said on Tuesday.South Korea seized four vessels to check whether they violated U.N. sanctions by making illegal ship-to-ship transfers of oil or coal products to North Korean ships.A U.N. panel monitoring the enforcement of sanctions approved the release of the Hong Kong-flagged Lighthouse Winmore and the South Korean P-Pioneer based on the result of a South Korean investigation that found they had not intended to breach sanctions, South Korean officials said."There was evidence of ship-to-ship transfers but we concluded that it was not deliberate…

Engineered Marine Fuels formulated to not only comply, but also perform, ahead of 2020 sulphur cap.EMF.5 fuels range ensures compliance without compromising on quality and performanceThe fuels have passed stringent fit-for-use assessmentsCombined fuels and lubricants offer can help customers reduce operating costsExxonMobil has introduced EMF.5, its range of Engineered Marine Fuels developed ahead of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) global 0.50 percent sulphur cap.

Today’s container market is confronting more than its fair share of headwinds.The recently published Container Forecaster from global shipping consultancy, Drewry, highlights concerns of a slowing global economy stoked by the ongoing US-China trade war (albeit paused for the moment), escalating geo-political tension in many regions of the world and an industry grappling with challenging new emission regulations. Beyond these, however, a series of existential fears are also beginning to present themselves that could dent demand for shipping in the future…

UK-based offshore drilling contractor EnscoRowan announced that it will change its name to Valaris, effective July 31, 2019.The London-headquartered firm said in a stock exchange announcement that its ordinary shares will trade under the new ticker symbol VAL following its name change.According to the company, the name Valaris was selected following a comprehensive process that included participation from the company’s employees around the world, feedback from customers and other market research."This new name was inspired by the Latin root meaning strength…

Oakland International Container Terminal (SSA), a major Port of Oakland tenant, said its $6 million conversion to hybrid yard cranes would cut greenhouse gas emissions 96 percent. “This is way better than we thought it would be,” said Ken Larson, Crane Manager for the terminal’s parent company, Seattle-based SSA Terminals. “So far, this is a very successful project.”The marine terminal, which handles 61 percent of Oakland’s cargo, is converting 13 massive cargo handlers, known as rubber tired gantry cranes, from diesel to battery-powered hybrid engines.

The initial phase of the Glofouling Partnerships project is now well and truly underway with a series of technical workshops in the Pacific, stated  International Maritime Organization (IMO).The UN body said that the key message delivered to participants was that once introduced, marine invasive species can be hard to eradicate - and invasive species represent a potential major threat to the Pacific Ocean's biodiversity and the ecological integrity of Small Island Developing States.The…

Damen Shipyards Group, in its latest edition of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, has detailed the group's alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals."Damen has designed to align its CSR approach to the UN Sustainable Development Goals in recognition of its global responsibilities as an international player," said a press note from the Dutch defense, shipbuilding, and engineering conglomerate.The group has focused on seven of the seventeen SDGs, being the most relevant to the shipbuilding industry, whilst continuing to work towards the remainder.

South American country Peru has acceded to an important  International Maritime Organization (IMO) treaty helping to protect the marine environment – the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships (AFS) Convention.The UN body said that the treaty prohibits the use of harmful organotins in anti-fouling paints and establishes a mechanism to prevent the potential future use of other harmful substances in anti-fouling systems.Juan Carlos Gamarra Skeels, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Peru to IMO…

Germany has agreed to take in about a dozen of the 41 migrants who arrived in Italy last month on board German charity rescue ship Sea-Watch, an Italian government source said on Tuesday.The compromise to diffuse tensions with the Italian government, which had ordered the ship not to enter Italian waters, also includes France, Portugal, Finland, and Luxemburg, which have agreed to share the burden of hosting the migrants.There was no immediate official reaction from Germany or Italy about the accord which was first reported by Spiegel magazine.The German captain of the ship, Carola Rackete, appeared before a court in Sicily on Monday…

DESMI Ocean Guard A/S has announced that the CompactClean Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) has received amended US Coast Guard type approval certificate with just 2 hours minimum hold time restriction in US waters, demonstrating its superior performance. Furthermore, the amended certificate allows installation in hazardous areas.On July 1st, 2019 DESMI Ocean Guard’s CompactClean Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) received amended US Coast Guard (USCG) type approval certificate with just 2 hours minimum hold time restriction, as well as approval of installation in hazardous areas.

Companies are leaving Britain's shipping registry due to uncertainty over Britain's departure from the European Union and future commercial arrangements with the bloc, industry officials say.All commercial ships have to be registered, or flagged, with a particular country partly to comply with safety and environmental regulations. Shipping companies in many so-called "flag states" pay corporation tax based on vessel tonnage rather than profit.Britain's ship registry forms part…

The technology group Wärtsilä, Japanese ship builder Oshima Shipbuilding, and the classification society DNV GL have delivered the first results of their joint industry development project. At the recent Nor-Shipping exhibition held in Norway, the project partners announced a next-generation 62,000 dwt Ultramax Bulk Carrier design that is optimized according to actual operating profiles, and that will meet coming emissions legislation. The design demonstrates that emission levels…

Philly Shipyard ASA announced that Brian Leathers will assume the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) immediately following the Q2 2019 meeting of the Board of Directors on July 15, 2019.Mr. Leathers will replace Jan Ivar Nielsen, who is resigning from his position as the company’s CFO to pursue another executive role within the Aker group. Mr. Nielsen will remain available to the company until August 15, 2019 to ensure a smooth transition.Mr. Leathers has served as the company’s Strategy and Compliance Officer for the past six months, reporting to Mr. Nielsen. Prior to that role, Mr.