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Petroleum Product News

18 Jan 2024

Diesel and Engine Oil Removed from Sunken Tug in California

(Photo: Levi Read / U.S. Coast Guard)

Petroleum product and hazardous material have been removed from a 1940s era military tugboat that sunk in California, the U.S. Coast Guard said.A Unified Command and its contractors completed lightering efforts from the tug Mazapeta, Wednesday.The Mazapeta sunk September 4, 2023, in Little Potato Slough within the San Joaquin Delta, northwest of Stockton, with approximately 1,600 gallons of diesel and engine oil reported to be onboard at the time of the incident.Quantification of recovered product is ongoing…

10 Jan 2024

Salvors to Remove Fuel from Sunken Tug in California

Crews work to place and maintain sorbent boom around the Tug Mazapeta on September 7, 2023. Image credit: California Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention & Response.

Salvors are set to begin removing fuel from a 1940s era military tugboat that sunk in California last year, the U.S. Coast Guard said.The Mazapeta sunk September 4, 2023, in Little Potato Slough within the San Joaquin Delta, northwest of Stockton, Calif. with approximately 1,600 gallons of diesel and engine oil were reported onboard at the time of the incident.To date approximately 593 gallons of petroleum product have been recovered from inside the containment boom area, which surrounds the sunken tug.

06 Apr 2023

Western Restrictions on Russian Oil Reshuffle Global Shipping Patterns

©Happyphotons/AdobeStock

Global fuel suppliers are turning to longer and costlier routes that produce more carbon emissions to move their diesel and other products as Western restrictions on Russian cargoes have reshuffled global energy shipping patterns.As a result of the European Union ban on Russian fuel that started on Feb. 5, tankers carrying clean oil products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and naphtha are traveling between 16 and 18 days to bring Russian supplies to Brazil or U.S. cargoes to Europe…

15 Dec 2022

Performance Shipping Takes Delivery of Secondhand Tanker

Greek shipowner Performance Shipping announced on Thursday that it has taken delivery of a 2013-built LR2 Aframax oil product tanker that it agreed to purchase in November 2022.The 105,408 dwt P. Long Beach (formerly Fos Hamilton) was acquired for $43.75 million, partially financed through a term loan facility with Alpha Bank S.A.Long Beach is equipped with an eco-electronic engine and fitted with a ballast water treatment system (BWTS).The vessel is the fourth vessel delivered to the company during the course of this year, bringing the Performance Shipping’s current fleet to a total of eight Aframax tankers.Andreas Michalopoulos, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “The delivery of our second LR2 Aframax tanker, the M/T P.

23 Nov 2022

Debris Analysis Shows Iran-made Drone Attacked Tanker, US Navy Says

Graphic illustration and images captured by a U.S. Navy explosive ordnance disposal team aboard M/T Pacific Zircon, Nov. 16, showing the location where an Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) penetrated M/T Pacific Zircon’s outer hull during an attack Nov. 15. The one-way UAV attack tore a 30-inch-wide hole in the outer hull on the starboard side of the ship’s stern, just below the main deck. (U.S. Navy graphic)

The U.S. military on Tuesday said debris analysis has concluded that the same type of Iranian drone that Tehran has supplied to Russia for its invasion of Ukraine was used to attack a commercial tanker off the coast of Oman a week ago.The U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet published photos and details of its investigation into the attack on the Liberian-flagged Pacific Zircon tanker, including debris from the Shahed-136 drone itself.In a statement, the Navy said the drone ripped a 30-inch-wide (76 cm) hole into the back of the ship…

17 Nov 2022

Performance Shipping Buys Secondhand Aframax Tanker

Greek shipowner Performance Shipping on Thursday announced it has signed a memorandum of agreement to purchase a secondhand 105,408 dwt LR2 Aframax oil product tanker for $43.75 million.The vessel, Fos Hamilton, was built by South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries in 2013 and is equipped with an eco-electronic engine and ballast water management system (BWMS). It is scheduled to be delivered to the company in mid-December 2022 and will be renamed P. Long Beach.Performance Shipping said it will finance the acquisition with cash proceeds from the previously announced sale its oldest vessel, P. Fos, as well as a new senior secured facility.Andreas Michalopoulos…

17 Nov 2022

US Says Iran Responsible for Drone Attack on Tanker

An attack on a tanker off the coast of Oman on Tuesday was carried out by an Iranian-made drone, U.S. Central Command said in a statement, adding that a multilateral maritime operation led by a British Royal Navy frigate had responded to the area.An Israeli official had blamed Iran for the strike on the Pacific Zircon tanker managed by Israeli-controlled Eastern Pacific Shipping. The company said there was minor damage to the hull but no injuries or spillage of the gas oil cargo.A White House official earlier said the United States was "confident that Iran likely conducted" the hit using an unmanned aerial vehicle. Iran's Nournews, which is affiliated with the country's top security body, blamed Israel for the attack.U.S.

16 Nov 2022

Tanker Hit by Projectile Off Oman Coast

A tanker was hit by a projectile off the coast of Oman on Tuesday, causing minor damage to the hull with no injuries or spillage of the gas oil cargo, Eastern Pacific Shipping, which manages tanker Pacific Zircon, said on Wednesday. The Singapore-based firm, which is controlled by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer, said it was investigating the incident which took place approximately 150 miles off the coast of Oman. "All crew are safe and accounted for," it said. "Preliminary reports indicate the vessel...was hit by a projectile," Eastern Pacific Shipping said. "There is some minor damage to the vessel's hull but no spillage of cargo or water ingress." The U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet earlier told Reuters it is aware of an incident in the Gulf of Oman involving a commercial vessel.

10 Nov 2022

Performance Shipping Takes Delivery of Secondhand LR2 Tanker

Greek shipowner Performance Shipping Inc. announced it has taken delivery of its first LR2 Aframax oil product tanker, a 2010-built 105,304 dwt vessel it purchased in August 2022.As previously announced, the P. Aliki—formerly named Alpine Amalia—was acquired for a total purchase price of $36.5 million and financed with $18.25 million cash on hand and $18.25 million from the recently announced term loan facility with Alpha Bank S.A.The vessel will enter into a time charter contract with Trafigura Maritime Logistics Pte Ltd. commencing in mid-November at a daily rate of $45,000 per day for a period of minimum seven months to a maximum of 10 months at the option of the charterer.Andreas Michalopoulos…

24 Aug 2022

Performance Shipping Buys Secondhand Aframax Tanker

Greek tanker owner Performance Shipping on Wednesday announced it has reached a deal to acquire a secondhand Aframax tanker for $36.5 million.The vessel, a 105,304 dwt LR2 Aframax oil product tanker built by South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries in 2010, will be renamed P. Alik from Alpine Amalia. The ship is fitted with a ballast water treatment system (BWTS) and exhaust gas cleaning system (EGCS), and its next scheduled special survey and drydock is in 2025.Performance Shipping said it expects to take delivery if the vessel in November 2022. The tanker will be the seventh in the company’s fleet.The company said it intends to finance…

31 May 2022

How Much Oil Does the EU Import from Russia?

© vchalup / Adobe Stock

The European Union has agreed to ban the bulk of imports of Russian crude and oil products in its latest round of sanctions following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.The ban on seaborne crude imports will be phased in over six months and for seaborne refined products over eight months. It excludes deliveries via the Druzhba oil pipeline which supplies refineries in Eastern Europe and eastern Germany.Yet many European buyers have voluntarily suspended purchases of Russian oil or announced plans to phase it out…

06 Apr 2022

How Much Oil Does the European Union Import from Russia?

© Igor Groshev / Adobe Stock

The European Commission has proposed new sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, including a ban on buying Russian coal and on Russian ships entering EU ports. Yet the EU faces an uphill slog to wean itself of energy imports from its Eastern neighbor.Following is a summary of key facts about the EU's use of Russian oil:How much Russian oil does the EU import?Europe is the destination for nearly half of Russia's crude and petroleum product exports, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA)…

09 Mar 2022

US Sanctions on Russian Oil to Leave More Cargoes at Sea with No Buyers

© terex / Adobe Stock

The U.S. ban on Russian oil and gas imports is likely to leave more cargoes at sea with no buyers, and the European Union's decision to continue imports was unlikely to make much difference to disarray in Russian oil trade, analysts said on Tuesday.U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday imposed an immediate ban on Russian oil and other energy imports in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine and Britain said it would phase out imports through the end of 2022.The European Union did not join the ban because it is more dependent on Russian oil and gas supplies.

12 Nov 2021

UAE, Bahrain, Israel and US Conduct First Joint Naval Drill

(Photo: William Phillips / U.S. Navy)

Forces from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Israel and the United States Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) began a multilateral maritime security operations exercise in the Red Sea on Wednesday, NAVCENT said on Thursday.This is the first publicly acknowledged naval exercise between the United States, Israel and the two Gulf countries.An Israeli naval officer, briefing reporters in Israel on the drill, said the start of such military cooperation under U.S. auspices could…

09 Aug 2021

Iran Denies Role in Tanker Attack, Says Seeks Gulf Security

Iran on Saturday rejected as psychological warfare accusations that it was behind a deadly attack on a tanker off Oman's coast, and said Tehran sought to enhance the security of the strategic Gulf waterway.Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy economies said on Friday Iran was threatening international peace and security and that all available evidence showed it was behind the attack on the Mercer Street tanker last week."If we were to confront enemies...we would declare it openly, so the recent storytelling by the enemies is a psychological operation," state media quoted Abolfazl Shekarchi, Iran's senior armed forces spokesman…

05 Aug 2021

UN Security Council to Discuss Deadly Tanker Attack

Britain will raise a deadly tanker attack off the coast of Oman during a closed-door United Nations Security Council meeting on Friday, diplomats said, but the 15-member body is not expected to take any action.Britain told the Security Council on Tuesday it was "highly likely" that Iran used one or more drones to carry out the tanker attack last week, which killed two crew members - a Briton and a Romanian."There's a lot of conflicting information. A 'highly likely' analysis, which we totally reject. We need to establish facts ... we don't need to rush to any conclusions or actions without having proof of what has happened," deputy Russian U.N.

04 Aug 2021

Boarders Exit Tanker off UAE Coast, Ship Safe

© harvepino/AdobeStock

Boarders have left a tanker that maritime sources had said was seized off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and the vessel is safe, Britain's maritime trade agency reported on Wednesday.Three maritime security forces had told Reuters on Tuesday that the asphalt/bitumen tanker Asphalt Princess had been seized by suspected Iranian-backed forces, which Iran denied.The AIS tracking status of the Panama-flagged Asphalt Princess was "Underway Using Engine" early on Wednesday, according…

03 Aug 2021

Report of Ship Attack Underway Off UAE Coast

© AytugAskin / Adobe Stock

A non-piracy incident is under way off the coast of the United Arab Emirates' Fujairah, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Tuesday.The UKMTO warning notice, based on a third party source, advised vessels to exercise extreme caution in the area, around 61 nautical miles east of the emirate of Fujairah.UKTMO provided no details regarding the vessel or vessels involved.However on Tuesday afternoon a Singapore-flagged chemical tanker in roughly the same position off Fujairah named Golden Brilliant updated its AIS tracking status to "Not Under Command"…

02 Aug 2021

US Sees 'Collective Response' to Ship Attack Blamed on Iran

The United States is confident Iran attacked an Israeli-managed tanker last week, killing two, the top U.S. diplomat said on Monday, predicting a "collective response" but saying he did not think the incident necessarily signaled anything about Iran's incoming President Ebrahim Raisi."We have seen a series of actions taken by Iran over many months, including against shipping. So I am not sure that this particular action is anything new or augurs anything one way or another for the new government," Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters.

02 Aug 2021

Iran Warns of Response if Security Threatened After Ship Attack

Iran will respond promptly to any threat against its security, the foreign ministry said on Monday, after the United States, Israel and Britain blamed Tehran for an attack on an Israeli-managed tanker off the coast of Oman.Tehran has denied any involvement in the attack on Thursday in which two crew members—a Briton and a Romanian—were killed.The United States and Britain said on Sunday they would work with their allies to respond to the attack on the Mercer Street, a Liberian-flagged, Japanese-owned petroleum product tanker managed by Israeli-owned Zodiac Maritime.British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described the incident as "clearly an unacceptable and outrageous attack on commercial shipping"."Iran should face up to the consequences of what they've done…

30 Jul 2021

Update: Israel Blames Iran for Tanker Attack that Killed Two

© Creuxnoir/AdobeStock

A Briton and a Romanian were killed when an Israeli-managed petroleum product tanker came under attack on Thursday off the coast of Oman, the company said on Friday, in an incident that Israel's foreign minister blamed on Iran and said deserved a harsh response.There were varying explanations for what happened to the Mercer Street, a Liberian-flagged, Japanese-owned ship, with Israeli-owned Zodiac Maritime describing the incident as "suspected piracy" and a source at the Oman…

06 May 2021

'Nuisance' Tug Scuttled off Alaskan Coast

The abandoned tugboat Lumberman was scuttled off the coast of Alaska after it was determined to pose a significant public safety risk. (Photo: City and Borough of Juneau)

A derelict tugboat abandoned near Juneau, Alaska since 2016, has been towed to sea and scuttled in the Gulf of Alaska, the U.S. Coast Guard said.The Lumberman had been causing problems for locals since it was abandoned in the Gastineau channel five years ago, and the decision was made to dispose of the vessel at sea after the 107-foot steel hulled tugboat was determined to be derelict and a significant risk to public safety, according to the Coast Guard.The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ)…

15 Apr 2021

U.S. Crude Oil Exports: When 'Less is More'

© SHUTTER DIN/AdobeStock

Longer sailing distances cushion fall in US crude oil exportsTon mile demand generated by US crude oil exports has fallen by 9.7% in the first two months of 2021 compared with the start of 2020. The fall could however have been much worse; In volume terms, seaborne crude oil exports have fallen by 18.8%, to 20.9m tonnes, a 4.8m tonnes decline compared with last year, according to data from the US Census Bureau.While seaborne crude oil exports to all regions have fallen, those to Asia are among the least affected, down just 1.0%, or equivalent to one Aframax load (101,088 tonnes).

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