Singapore News

A big drag on Singapore's growth in recent years, the embattled offshore and marine industry, has broken a three-year losing streak. Yet industry executives aren't betting on a return to the glory days anytime soon.The industry, along with a top-class finance sector, has been a key pillar of Singapore's economic transformation into a first world economy since independence from British colonial rule in 1965 and a source of national pride. But a 2014 collapse in oil prices has resulted in thousands jobs lost…

Saudi Arabia announced last week it was suspending oil shipments through the Red Sea's Bab al-Mandeb strait after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis attacked two ships in the waterway.To date, no other exporters have followed suit. A full blockage of the strategic waterway would virtually halt shipment to Europe and the United States of about 4.8 million barrels per day of crude oil and refined petroleum products.Western allies backing a Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen expressed concern about the attacks, but have not indicated they would take action to secure the strait.

Diana Shipping announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Koch Shipping Pte. Ltd., Singapore, for one of its Capesize dry bulk vessels, the m/v Seattle.The global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels said that the gross charter rate is US$24,000 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period of minimum four months to maximum six months.The m/v Seattle was chartered…

A record 400 tertiary students attended  annual Singapore Maritime Dialogue (SMD), organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).This is the first time MPA has teamed up with students from the National University of Singapore to engage and encourage their peers to participate in the SMD.Centred on the theme “Building a Future-Ready Maritime Singapore”, the panel comprising Guest-of-Honour, Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Transport and Health, Dr Lam Pin Min…

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) survey and inspection firm Cyberhawk has completed the first full ABS Intermediate Hull Survey 4 on an oil tanker using UAVs.Cyberhawk performed full class inspection across 19 tanks on board an oil tanker while at a shipyard in Singapore. This included 12 Cargo Oil Tanks (COT), two slop tanks and five ballast tanks. Attending was the American Bureau for Shipping (ABS) to ensure the quality of the inspection complied with the specific ABS rules (ESP) set for tankers.

Shipping group Maersk said on Thursday 94 companies and organizations have so far joined a blockchain platform developed with IBM aimed at boosting efficiency and limiting the enormous paper trail of global container shipping.The industry has seen little innovation since the container was invented in the 1950s, and cross-border trade still leaves an enormous trail of paperwork and bureaucracy.Under its new strategy, which includes the creation of an industry-wide blockchain-based trading platform, Maersk aims to expand its transport and logistics business in areas such as freight forwarding an

A $250 million superyacht, impounded as part of a hunt for assets linked to the multi-billion dollar investigation into 1Malaysia Development Bhd, arrived at a port in Malaysia on Tuesday about six months after it was seized.The Cayman Islands-flagged Equanimity was first seized in the Indonesian holiday venue of Bali in February at the request of U.S. authorities investigating 1MDB.The Malaysian state fund is at the center of money-laundering probes in at least six countries, including the United States, Switzerland and Singapore.

DOF Subsea has been awarded several contracts securing utilisation of personnel and vessels in the Subsea IMR Projects segment. DOF Subsea has been awarded a contract in the Atlantic region by MHI Vestas Offshore Wind for the Skandi Constructor. The contract will commence at the end of Q3 and secures utilisation until the end of 2018. The Asia Pacific region has been awarded several contracts securing ROV and diving work for Skandi Singapore through Q4 2018 for several clients in the Asia Pacific region.A month ago…

Venezuela's state-run oil company PDVSA has limited the damage from an unprecedented slump in crude exports by transferring oil between tankers at sea and loading vessels in neighboring Cuba to avoid asset seizures.But the OPEC member nation is still fulfilling less than 60 percent of its obligations under supply deals with customers.Venezuela has been pumping oil this year at the lowest rate in three decades after years of underinvestment and a mass exodus of workers. The state…

The ZEABORN Group announced it has combined its two recently acquired Hamburg-based ship management companies to form one global brand, ZEABORN Ship Management GmbH & Cie. KG.Bremen-based ZEABORN Group has brought together Rickmers Shipmanagement, which was acquired by ZEABORN in September 2017, and E.R. Schiffahrt, acquired in February 2018. The company will trade under its new name with effect from August 10, 2018.The combined technically managed fleet currently comprises more…

Wilhelmsen Ships Service has been selected to help develop the future Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) regulatory framework for Singapore and will receive dedicated funding for their shore-to-ship delivery project.Wilhelmsen Ships Service is one of only four companies to have received the funding, following a Call-For-Proposal (CFP) by CAAS and the Ministry of Transport. The CFP aims to support the development of systems and technologies to enable innovations within the wide-ranging use of UAS.

Floating production, storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs) are in the ascendancy. The total FPSO market is now expected to grow to over $117 billion by 2024. A combination of factors, such as the recovered oil price and renewed interest in deeper, more marginal new reserves, have made these vessels the understandable choice for an industry that still remembers the travails of 2014.But nothing can be taken for granted. With an uptick in activity, operators need to be wary of supply-chain risks. Valves are a critical component of any new project and they must adhere to strict standards.

Zim Integrated Shipping Services (ZIM) has announced the new Strategic Partnership Agreement with the 2M alliance, details of the new improved Asia - U.S. East Coast – Asia network that are now available.Nissim Yochai, ZIM EVP Trans Pacific Trade, said: "The new alignment will enable ZIM customers to enjoy the best of both worlds: ZIM’s highly reputed personalized service, along with the best-in-market infrastructure and product.”The new upgraded network includes 5 services under the ZIM+2M cooperation…

Diana Shipping announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has agreed to extend the present time charter contract with Hudson Shipping Lines Incorporated for one of its Panamax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Protefs.The global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels said that the gross charter rate is US$11,000 per day, minus a 3.75% commission paid to third parties, for a period of about 12 months to maximum 15 months.The new charter period will commence on September 19, 2018.

Automation of measurement of fuel deliveries expanded to cover ExxonMobil Premium HDME 50 marine fuelExxonMobil claims it is the first to supply via an independently accredited mass flow metering system (MFMS) in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region. ExxonMobil Premium HDME 50 marine fuel is now available through an MFMS that has received third-party accreditation from Lloyd’s Register.The move, which builds on the implementation of MFMS in Singapore and Hong Kong, meets the needs of customers for quicker…

China Navigation Company (CNCo), part of the Swire Group, has expanded its presence in North America by establishing a branch office in Vancouver, Canada.The opening ceremony was graced by Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade & Technology, British Columbia, who unveiled a plaque in the CNCo office located at W Hastings Street.Minister Bruce Ralston said, “The Province recognises the significant contribution that The China Navigation Company makes to the shipping industry worldwide.

Contaminated marine fuel that clogs and damages ship engines has been found in Singapore, the world's largest ship refuelling hub, according to sources and an alert sent to clients by a marine fuel surveying company.Singapore-based marine fuel surveyor and consulting firm Maritec Pte Ltd warned clients this week that six samples of ship fuel sold in Singapore had "resulted in severe sludging at centrifuges, clogged pipelines, overwhelmed fuel filters".The Singapore findings follow reports of more than 100 vessels that loaded similarly contaminated fuel in the U.S.

Oil and gas equipment supplier Baker Technology on Thursday made a mandatory unconditional cash offer for all the shares in CH Offshore, a vessel chartering firm."BT Investment (BTI), a direct wholly-owned subsidiary Baker Technology, has announced that it has entered into (a) a sale and purchase agreement with Energian, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Falcon Energy Group, a company listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading to acquire 217,800,000 issued and paid-up ordinary shares in the capital of CH Offshore…

Inquiries for marine fuel supplies in the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Fujairah oil hub have spiked as shippers try to avoid loading tainted fuel oil that has clogged and damaged ship engines in Singapore recently, three trade sources said.Tainted marine fuel has been found in Singapore, the world's largest ship refuelling hub, following reports of more than 100 vessels that loaded similarly contaminated fuel in the U.S.

Singapore-based FSL Trust Management (FSLTM), as trustee-manager of First Ship Lease Trust  announced a new pool agreement for the two LR2 vessels, 2006 built and each 109,672 DWT, FSL Piraeus (ex-Torm Margrethe) and FSL Perth (ex-Torm Marie), which have recently returned from their bareboat charters and have now been renamed.The Trust has established a new business relationship with Heidmar as these vessels enter into the Sigma Pool.Heidmar Inc, founded in 1984, is one of the world’s leading commercial tanker operators with a fleet of approximately 80 ships…

Norway's floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) giant Höegh LNG said it has secured a USD 177 million debt financing for its FSRU delivery unit number 9. The FSRU is scheduled to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2018. The facility comprises a 12-year tranche of USD 132 million guaranteed by K-SURE (South Korean export credit agency) and a five-year non-amortising commercial bank tranche of USD 45 million. A combination of existing and new lenders are participating…

Ocean Network Express East Asia (ONE EA) has celebrated the maiden voyage of the second of a series of seven 14,000 TEU-class magenta containership of the company, ONE MINATO at Yantian International Container Terminals Limited (YICT).Sailed under the flag of Japan,  One Minato is a newly built 14,000 TEU-class containership which was delivered from Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. in Hiroshima, Japan on 24 July 2018.At 365.94 metres length and 51.2 metres width, the vessel deployed on THE Alliance’s Asia to North America East Coast trade (EC4 service)…

Dubai-based shipowner United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) has filed suit against Miami-based marine fuels provider World Fuels Services (WFS) seeking relief from damages incurred through the bunkering of off-spec fuel oil in 2016, reports Arabian Industry.UASC is seeking relief from damages incurred through the bunkering of the off-spec fuel oil, according to the suit filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida on 27 June, 2018.The Middle East shipping giant claims that on or about 21 September 2016…