Mediterranean News

Federal officials in Philadelphia seized more than 15,000 kilos of cocaine with a street value of more than $1 billion at the Philadelphia Port, making it the largest seizure ever for the eastern district of Pennsylvania area and one of the biggest in U.S. history.According to various media report, quoting law enforcement officials, more than 15,500 kilos of cocaine were found in seven containers, which were found aboard a cargo ship, the MSC Gayane, that previously stopped in Colombia, Chile, Panama and the Bahamas.A press release from the MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company said that it is aware of reports of an incident at the Port of Philadelphia in which U.S. authorities made a seizure of illicit cargo.MSC noted it has a longstanding history of cooperating with U.S.

Turkey will launch a second drilling vessel on Thursday that will begin natural gas operations near Cyprus at the beginning of July, Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez was quoted as saying on Tuesday.Turkey and the internationally recognized Cypriot government have overlapping claims of jurisdiction for offshore oil and gas research in that part of the Mediterranean, an area thought to be rich in natural gas.Ankara already has a ship, called Fatih, in the region. Donmez was…

Port of Bristol, which comprises the commercial, and former commercial, docks situated in and near the city of Bristol in England, announced that its container terminal capacity has been boosted significantly by the completion of a GBP 9 million upgrade.A release from the port authority said that the investment is a further commitment to the ever-expanding container services offered at Avonmouth and Portbury Docks.James Stangroom, Commercial Manager at Bristol Port, said: “This upgrade is designed to further refine our productivity, and to provide considerable extra capacity to handle an increase in container traffic.“Our container services continue to grow…

Swiss-based shipping line MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is improving trade links between Costa Rica and northern Europe by adding a new direct call from the Port of Moin.The container shipping that operates in all major ports of the world said in a press release that MSC Katya R. has become the largest vessel to call Moin Terminal in Costa Rica, launching a new era in cargo shipping for the port and for exporters using its facilities.MSC’s service will bring larger container…

Energy services company Shawcor’s pipe coating division has entered into several contracts with an international EPC contractor to provide coating services for offshore pipeline projects.The projects include: Petrobras’ Mero in Brazil; ConocoPhillips’ Tor 2 in Norway; BP’s Atlantis in the Gulf of Mexico; Energean’s Karish in the Mediterranean Sea; Shell’s Powernap in the Gulf of Mexico; Equinor’s P1 and Duva in Norway.These projects will be executed within Shawcor’s network of coating facilities…

Malta Freeport Terminals welcomed the first ever LNG-powered container ship to visit Malta during the course of the vessel’s maiden voyage from Asia to Rotterdam.Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi, whose portfolio includes the Freeport Authority visited this ship to mark this special event.The mv Containerships Polar, operated by a subsidiary of leading shipping line CMA CGM, discharged over 560 containers during its call to Malta. Containerships Polar is the second in a series of…

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the third-largest cruise line in the world, controlling approximately 8.7% of the total worldwide share of the cruise market by passengers, celebrated its first season of cruises from the Netherlands, Amsterdam with the European debut of Norwegian Pearl.The international cruise liner said that with this maiden call it is growing the brand’s presence to six ships in the region for the first time.On Saturday, 8 June, Norwegian Pearl’s Captain, Paul von Knorring…

APM Terminals Algeciras, the largest container terminal in the Mediterranean, is renewing and increasing its fleet of terminal tractors.The company has started introducing the new Terberg YT222 model, which features improved ergonomics, comfort, safety and environmental impact.The 116 new tractors will all have arrived by July this year, increasing the current fleet by 14 units. The new model includes specifications resulting from suggestions made by the operators.Terberg works…

The international shipping industry is responsible for around 90% of world trade. There are around 60,000 merchant ships, transporting every kind of cargo.The world fleet is registered in over 150 nations, and manned by over a million seafarers, meaning the safety of vessels is critical. The maritime industry saw the number of total shipping losses of vessels over 100GT plummet during 2018 to 46 – the lowest total this century. To put this into context there were 207 total losses…

International Maritime Organization (IMO)-supported 4th edition of the Adriatic Oil Spill Conference (ADRIASPILLCON 2019), was held in Opatija, Croatia (28-30 May)."Planning for any marine pollution incident requires ongoing communication, collaboration and cooperation. Regional and sub-regional contingency planning is an effective way to share resources and expertise," said the UN body in a press release.The Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC)…

In advance of its AGM in the Faroe Islands next week, the global trade association for shipowners, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), has launched its Annual Review 2019, providing in-depth insight into the most pressing issues confronting shipping, which moves about 90% of global trade.ICS Chairman, Esben Poulsson, explains:  “The immediate focus of ICS is the successful implementation of the UN IMO global sulphur cap, which will take complete effect on January 1. ICS…

China’s Vice President Wang Qishan visited the HHLA Container Terminal Tollerort (CTT) at the Port of Hamburg.Wang was greeted by the Chairwoman of the Executive Board of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), Angela Titzrath, Hamburg’s First Mayor, Dr Peter Tschentscher, and representatives of the Chinese container shipping company Cosco Shipping Lines. Wang headed a 40-strong party of high-ranking Chinese government officials, and the terminal operator said the visit emphasizes…

Planning for any marine pollution incident requires ongoing communication, collaboration and cooperation, points out the International Maritime Organization (IMO).Regional and sub-regional contingency planning is an effective way to share resources and expertise. This was in evidence at the IMO-supported 4th edition of the Adriatic Oil Spill Conference (ADRIASPILLCON 2019), held in Opatija, Croatia (28-30 May), said the UN body.Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC)…

To keep the planet flourishing, 30 percent of Earth needs protection by 2030. Today about eight percent of the ocean and 15 percent of land is protected."We’re on track to reach a global goal of protecting 10 percent of the ocean and 17 percent of the land by 2020, but world leaders need to dramatically boost ambition if we are to protect our natural resources and the people and wildlife that depend on them," said Oceana, an ocean conservation and advocacy organization.Oceana has joined the world’s leading philanthropists and ocean conservation organizations…

Canada’s marine services provider McKeil Marine Limited has acquired Topaz, an IMO 2, ice class 1A chemical tanker.With this newest addition to its diversified fleet of tugs, barges, workboats and vessels, including bulkers, cement carriers, and tankers, McKeil expands its offering and is poised for additional growth.The Panamanian-flagged Topaz built in 2009, measures 137 metres by 20 metres, with a DWT of 13,965 metric tonnes. The vessel was acquired to service the needs of McKeil’s customer Petro-Canada Lubricants Inc.

The crew of the MSC Matilde containership “were disembarked from the vessel as a precaution” after it started listing heavily during the night at the Port of Liverpool, UK.The container vessel was listing outside Gladstone Dock in Liverpool at about 02:00 BST yesterday (May 24). It started tilting in the River Mersey, at the UK port’s Liverpool2 container terminal."As a precaution, to ensure the safety of the captain and crew, they were disembarked from the vessel. There were no reports of injuries…

The Israel-headquartered container carrier Zim Integrated Shipping Services (ZIM) reported  a first-quarter net loss of $17.5 million compared with a net loss of $26.1 million in the first quarter of 2018.The global container shipping company said in a stock exchange annoucement that its first-quarter revenues were $796.2 million, an increase of 6% over the $751.4 million reported for the first quarter of 2018.In Q1 2019, ZIM carried 668 thousand TEUs (reflecting a decrease of 4.3% compared to Q1 2018)…

After buying several container factories from its smaller competitor Singapore-based shipping company Pacific International Lines (PIL), China’s Cosco Shipping Holdings Co. is eyeing it as a potential takeover target.The Chinese state-run ocean carrier  had bought part of debt-ridden PIL’s container-manufacturing business, and executives at the Chinese carrier believe they could wrap up a deal for the entire business if family-owned PIL’s owners decide to sell, reported WSJ.Cosco…

Israel cargo shipping company Zim Integrated Shipping Services (ZIM) announced that it has joined the Digital Shipping Association (DCSA) dedicated to digitization and standardization in the container shipping industry.ZIM CIO, EVP Eyal Ben-Amram, said: "We are excited to join DCSA and to contribute to the digital transformation. We firmly believe that digital innovation will shape the future of the shipping industry, and our multi-service approach embodies this belief. Standardization is the right way to improve the eco-system of all stakeholders".A month ago…

Since summer 2017, four vessels equipped with analog sonars have been upgraded using RTsys AS3i technology (Analog Surface Ship Sonar Improvement), which digitalized and improved the processing of signals rendered by sensors.Brittany-based company RTSYS does not only deals with AUV, subsea recorders and buoys, but can also display a full range of sonar systems such as handheld devices for divers or sonar retrofit. The latter of which led the French SME to lately offer in summer…

The 55 metre Heesen superyacht Vida (formerly known as Project Antares) has left Dutch waters for her maiden voyage to the Mediterranean where she will meet her new owners. Vida underwent rigorous sea trials earlier in March. During four days of tests she exceeded her contracted top speed, reaching 16.4 knots with noise and vibration levels that remained in line with specifications."Thanks to her progressive 55-metre FDHF hull and two MTU 8V4000 M63 diesel engines, Vida offers frugal fuel consumption coupled with an efficient underwater profile that enables a remarkable 4…

Dozens of migrants trying to reach Europe drowned in the Mediterranean on Friday and 100 more were sent back to Libya, the United Nations said, while Italian authorities signalling opposition to more migration from Africa seized a rescue ship.The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said 65 people drowned when their boat capsized off Tunisia, and 101 others who had been picked up at sea were returned to Libya, despite repeated warnings that it is not a safe country to send people back to.It was one the deadliest shipwrecks involving migrants trying to reach Europe via north Africa this year.Tripoli, a hub for migrants and refugees hoping to sail to Europe after a perilous trek through the Sahara…

The international container terminal operating company headquartered in The Hague, APM Terminals said that it is working closely with the government of Egypt on the final pieces of the jigsaw that will ensure the success of Egypt Vision 2030 for Port Said East Port and the Suez Canal Container Terminal (SCCT).Once in place, it is set to regain its position as one of the most competitive ports in the South and East Mediterranean region, APM said in a press release.As part of Egypt Vision 2030, the Egyptian Government has made massive investments in infrastructure.