Nws News

A key stretch of the lower Mississippi River dropped this week to within inches of its lowest-ever level and is expected to remain near historic lows just as the busiest U.S. grain export season gets underway, according to the National Weather Service.Low water has slowed hauling of export-bound corn and soybean barges over recent weeks as shippers lightened loads to prevent vessels from running aground and reduced the number of barges they haul at one time to navigate a narrower shipping channel.The water woes come at the worst possible time for U.S.

As 2022 moves into its final months, low water levels and drought form the basis of the news impacting inland waterways operators and barge companies. In the first week of October, numerous barges were reported grounded in the Mississippi River, particularly south of Baton Rouge. This has consequences: barge rates jumped 218% in St. Louis, compared to 2021.Low water was so severe that on October 7 Ingram Barge CEO John Roberts issued a force majeure notice (force majeure - unforeseeable…

The National Weather Service Wakefield, Virginia on Friday warned of an approaching coastal storm impacting the region over the upcoming weekend and into early next week, warning mariners of potentially dangerous marine conditions."Gale force winds are expected Saturday evening through Tuesday evening, May 7-10. Between this time, expect strong north to northeasterly winds, 25-35 kts with gusts up to 40 kts. Expected sea state will deteriorate and gradually increase to 8 to 10 feet resulting in dangerous marine conditions.

The government of India has informed that 111 waterways are being developed in phased manner as National Waterways (NWs) in the country for the purpose of shipping and navigation.The Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya that various initiatives have been taken by the Government to increase the use of Inland Waterways and Coastal Shipping for greater cargo shipment.These include providing assured depth of water in the channels, navigation aids like GPS and River Information System, terminals at regular intervals, facilities for mechanized handling of cargo handling etc.The Minister also informed that cargo transportation on waterways rose to 72.31 Million Tonnes in the year 2018-19…

The U.S. Coast Guard said it closed the Mississippi River near St. Louis to boat and barge traffic on Friday as excessive rains and heavy snow melt this spring swelled the major shipping waterway to near record levels.The river - a key transportation artery for shipments of grain, agricultural chemicals, energy products and other commodities - is closed from river mile marker 179 to 184, the Coast Guard said."The Mississippi is closed to all vessel traffic due to extremely high water levels and fast-moving currents," said U.S.

New World Supply, where S.D. Standard Drilling (SDSD) has an ownership of 26.2 percent, has completed a sale of its remaining four medium sized platform supply vessels (PSVs).The NWS vessels, "World Diamond", "World Peridot", "World Pearl" and "World Opal , have been in lay-up in Norway since October and November 2016. last year, the company  completed a sale of two of its six medium sized platform supply vessels (PSVs).According to the Cyprus-based company, the transaction is completed and the purchased price has been fully paid for all four vessels. All terms have been agreed and there are no further conditions.The transaction is done…

Australian oil and gas company with a global presence  Woodside announced that the Greater Western Flank Phase 2 (GWF-2) Project off the north-west coast of Australia has commenced gas production.A press release from the operator of the North West Shelf (NWS) project quoted its CEO Peter Coleman saying that  the project has been delivered $630 million below the expected cost of approximately $2.0 billion (100% basis) and six months ahead of schedule.“The project team has done an outstanding job executing and delivering GWF-2, which represents the next phase in gas supply to the NWS Goodwyn A platform, extending the life of the Karratha Gas Plant and contributing to Woodside achieving our targeted production of 100 MMboe in 2020…

New World Supply, where S.D. Standard Drilling (SDSD) has an ownership of 26.2 percent, has completed a sale of two of its six medium sized platform supply vessels (PSVs).According to the Cyprus-based company that offers offshore drilling services to the oil and natural gas exploration industry, the vessels, World Sapphire and World Emerald, have been in lay-up in Spain since October and November 2016.The purchase price, which remains confidential, has been fully paid for both vessels.The transaction is done at a level that reflect significantly higher vessel value compared to SDSD's book value and acquisition price of the shares in New World Supply Ltd.SDSD consider its holding in NWS as a financial investment.

In order to develop waterways from Kakinada to Chenna,  detailed hydrographic survey has been completed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) in respect of Kakinada to Ennore stretch of National Waterway-4.Development of National Waterway-4 is planned in three phases. Development of Phase-I works between Vijayawada to Muktyala stretch of Krishna River has been taken up at a cost of   USD 14 mln out of which USD 2.62 mln has been utilized so far. Vijayawada to Kakinada and Rajamundry to Polavaram portion of NW-4 is planned for development in Phase-II. Tendering process has been undertaken by the IWAI for a comprehensive hydrographic and navigation study for this stretch.On completion of Phase I and II…

The Government  of India proposes to augment capacity to develop eco-friendly and economic mode of transportation along inland waterways and coastal shipping routes under the Sagarmala Programme. Sagarmala is the flagship programme of the Ministry of Shipping to promote port-led development in the country by harnessing India’s 7,500 km long coastline, 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways. It aims to reduce the logistics costs by doubling the share of domestic waterways in the modal mix from current 6 per cent. The Coastal Berth Scheme being implemented since March 2015 to promote the development of infrastructure for movement of passengers and cargo at major and non-major ports has been merged with the Sagarmala Programme and extended up to March 2020.

The Government of India has got a budget allocation of  INR 228 crore (USD 35.1 mln) for the development of Inland waterways transport, which also includes INR 126 crore (USD 19.4 mln) for North Eastern Region, for the year 2017-18. The proposal for raising Extra Budgetary Resources (EBRs) of  INR 1,000 crore (USD 154 mln) through bonds was approved by Ministry of Finance in 2016-17. Out of  INR 1000 crore, INR 340.00 crore was raised during 2016-17. Remaining amount of INR 660.00 crore has been raised in the Financial Year 2017-18. Out of 111 National Waterways declared by the Government through the National Waterways Act, 2016, National Waterway-1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system from Allahabad to Haldia)…

Under the National Waterways Act, 2016 of India, a total of 111 waterways have been declared as National Waterways (NWs). Out of these 111 NWs, NWs-1, 2 and 3 are operational and cargo and passenger vessels are moving on them, while for NW-4, the development works under Phase-I from Muktyala to Vijaywada started  in 2017. Further, for development of NW-5, preparation of DPR including Front End Engineering Design (FEED) for the construction of weirs/ barrages with navigational locks and check dams between Pankapal and Paradip/ Dhamra (Phase-I) has been sanctioned. The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) has been commissioned with technical and financial assistance of the World Bank for the capacity augmentation of NW-1 (Ganga) from Haldia to Varanasi (1380 km).

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has raised Rs. 660 crore (USD 102mln) as “Government of India(GOI) Fully Serviced Bonds”. The resources raised by way of bonds are in addition to the budgetary support from the Government of India. The Government had taken a decision to enable IWAI to raise Rs 660 crore through GOI Fully Serviced Bonds in 2017-18. The IWAI had engaged arrangers, credit rating agencies, registrars and trustees prior to raising the Bonds. Both CRISIL and CARE rated the proposed instrument of IWAI as “AAA: STABLE”. The e-bidding for raising the bonds was organized on 11th October, 2017 on the BSE Portal with the issue size of Rs. 300 crore and Green Shoe option of Rs. 360 crore.

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Revalidation of permission to raise Extra Budgetary Resource (EBRs) of INR 660 crore (USD 103 mln) as Government of India Bonds by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) in 2017-18. The proceeds from the bonds will be utilized by IWAI for development and maintenance of National Waterways (NWs) under National Waterways Act, 2016 (effective from 12.4.2016). Funds received through issue of bonds will be used exclusively for capital expenditure to improve infrastructure funding. The investment to be undertaken for development of NWs on identified projects in 2017-18 is estimated to be approximately Rs. 2412.50 crore.

The Ministry of Shipping in India is organizing a workshop titled ‘Promoting Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation in India’ in Bhubaneswar, Odisha state today. This is the second in a series of workshops the Ministry plans to hold over the next 6-8 months to create awareness about the Sagarmala programme amongst the stake holders and to engage with them. India’s 7500 kms of coastline and almost 14,000 kms of navigable rivers provide the perfect platform for the development of integrated water based transport system for domestic and EXIM freight as well as passenger transport. The promotion of coastal shipping and inland navigation will help to reduce the congestion on the road and rail network.

New recommendations coming out of the investigation into the 2015 sinking of U.S. cargo ship El Faro call for efforts to improve the weather information available to mariners. All 33 crew on board died when the 790-foot El Faro sank close to the eye of Hurricane Joaquin near the Bahamas on October 1, 2015, two days after leaving Jacksonville, Fla. en route to Puerto Rico. Now, as part of its ongoing investigation into the incident, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)…

The Indian government has approved a proposal to allocate 2.5 per cent of the Central Road Fund (CRF) for National Waterways (NWs) that would result in about Rs 2,000 crore (USD 309 mln) proceeds per annum for their development. A statement from the government said that Indian Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accorded its approval today to a proposal jointly mooted by the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) for amendment of Central Road Fund Act, 2000 to allocate 2.5 per cent of the proceeds of CRF for development and maintenance of NWs and a reduction in the share provided for development of National Highways.

Integrated cargo transport along multiple waterways begins in India from the banks of Rupnarayan to the shores of Ganga. V. V. Giri, a vessel of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) began a landmark pilot movement on April 23, 2017 from Kolaghat in East Midnapore district of West Bengal to Bhagalpur in Bihar with a cement consignment of 240 metric tons. The vessel's journey commenced from Kolaghat on Rupnarayan river (National Waterway- 86) to reach Bhagalpur via river Ganga (NW-1). This marks the beginning of an integrated cargo movement involving two different NWs - NW-86 and NW-1. Rupnarayan river (NW-86) connects with river Ganga (NW-1) at Geokhali near Haldia. On its return trip, the vessel will bring fly ash/pet coke.

The ongoing project on national waterways ‘Jal Marg Vikas’ is a Rs 5,400-crore World Bank funded project on the Ganga, being developed between Allahabad and Haldia to cover a distance of 1620 km. The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) for capacity augmentation of National Waterway-1 (NW-1) between Haldia and Varanasi is being implemented with the technical and financial assistance of the World Bank. The shipping ministry has released details about the present status of Multimodal terminal at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, multimodal terminal at Sahibganj, Jharkhand and multimodal terminal at Haldia, West Bengal under planned JMVP multi modal terminals.

Loading of cargoes from Australia's North West Shelf (NWS) liquefied natural gas (LNG) and condensate project has been halted due to adverse weather, traders with direct knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday. It remains unclear when cargo loadings at the port of Dampier will resume, said one person familiar with the matter who is facing loading delays for a cargo of NWS condensate. In an emailed statement, Pilbara Ports Authority - which manages ports in the area - said LNG cargo loadings are likely to have stopped "as at the ports of Ashburton and Dampier, the ports and anchorages continue to remain clear of vessels". The NWS project is operated by Australian firm Woodside Petroleum.

The Shipping Ministry of India has announced the details of various ongoing major projects for development of National Waterways (NWs), which are as under four divisions. The government also revealed the techno–economic feasibility studies and Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the 106 new National Waterways. Since inception of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), projects worth Rs. 1871.567 crore ($275 million) for development of National Waterways (NWs) have been implemented till March, 2016. National Waterway – 1 (NW-1): Construction of Phase-I (A) of the multimodal Inland Water Transport (IWT) terminal at Varanasi at a cost of Rs.169.60 cr. Construction of Phase-I of the multimodal IWT terminal at Sahibganj at a cost of Rs.292.10 cr.

A decision to undertake development of National Waterways (NWs) declared under The National Waterways Act, 2016 is based on Techno Economic Feasibility Study and Detailed Project Report, commissioned on each of them, by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). This Act has been enforced with effect from 12th April 2016. It has been decided to undertake development of 37 NWs in the next three years. Specified stretches of River Sutlej and Beas have been included in the list of declared NWs as NWs No. 17 and 98 respectively. A RITES Report of 2014 on “Integrated National Waterways Transportation Grid (INWTG)” the cost comparison between Inland Water Transport (IWT) mode and rail and road transport was published.

Wind and rain from Hurricane Hermine toppled trees and power lines along Florida's northern Gulf Coast, inundating coastal areas with storm surges before it weakened to a tropical storm over land and plowed toward the Atlantic Coast on Friday. Hermine made landfall early on Friday near St. Marks, Florida, 20 miles south of the capital of Tallahassee, dumping heavy rains and packing winds of 80 mph (130 km/h), leaving tens of thousands of households without power along Florida's Gulf Coast. No injuries were immediately reported. It was the first hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Wilma more than a decade ago. A weakening Hermine moved across southern Georgia, blowing winds of 60 miles per hour (95 km) at 8 a.m. EDT, (noon GMT), according to the National Hurricane Center.