United Kingdom News

Shipping associations have called on ship owners to inform Britain's navy of their movements before sailing into the Middle East Gulf and Strait of Hormuz because of the escalating international crisis in the region.About a fifth of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz and shipping companies are already deploying more unarmed security guards as an extra safeguard.However, in a joint note issued by the leading trade associations on Monday, ship captains were requested to register with the Royal Navy's liaison body…

Reflecting its now dominant role in the international tug bulding market, Sanmar Shipyards in Turkey has taken the decision to significantly strengthen its team of executive directors with the appointment of two widely experienced men to bolster the existing board's range of experience and expertise. Although recruited independently, by some strange coincidence, the two new appointees first met as eleven year old boys. They had both been selected for a special training program…

Norway-based Atlantic Offshore, a provider of safety and support at sea, announced that it has received contract extensions for three of its emergency response and rescue vessels (ERRVs).The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) UK has declared a 9 month option for Ocean Osprey, commencing end of June, said the provider of emergency response, rescue & recovery, multi-role and platform supply vessel operations, within the UK and Norwegian energy sectors.Ocean…

United Kingdom-based closed-ended investment company Tufton Oceanic (SHIP) has reached an agreement to acquire a container ship for $28.6m. The new ship will take the company’s fleet size to 15 vessels.The new ship has a time charter of approximately 5.5 years to a major container line and SHIP says it is going to invest $4.7m to upgrade the in accordance with this charter.SHIP says that the yield from the new vessel exceeds the targets expressed in its prospectus dated 25 September 2018.This is the third investment made from the proceeds of the placing announced on 11 March 2019 and…

2019-007-Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Indian Ocean-Violence Due to Regional Conflict and PiracyDescription:This revised advisory cancels U.S. Maritime Advisory 2018-0151. References: (a) U.S. Maritime Alerts 2018-001A, 2018-002A, 2018-002B, 2018-005A, and 2018-007A2. Issues: Regional conflict and piracy threats continue to pose potential risks to commercial vessels operating in the above listed geographic areas.3. Conflict in Yemen continues to pose potential risk to U.S.

“Consistent Compliance” : The Paris MoU has published its 2018 Annual Report on July 1, 2019, which can be found on the website. This report contains the details of the activities of the Paris MoU during 2018. In 2018 there were 24 Refusal of Access Orders (referred to as “bannings”) issued. This shows a decrease from 32 in 2017. Refusal of access (banning) has been used 77 times since 2016.The detention percentage decreased to 3.15% (from 3.87%) and the number of detainable deficiencies also decreased to 3,171 (from 3,883 in 2017).

Senior officials from the newly established Kenya Coast Guard Services are undergoing training on coast guard functions at a national workshop in Mombasa, Kenya (24-28 June), said a press note from International Maritime Organization(IMO).The UN body said that fifteen participants are taking part in the training, which is using scenario development methodology and plenary discussions to highlight issues, identify insights and develop deeper understanding of effective ways to meet…

Hydrogen fuel cell technology to Satisfy Future IMO RequirementsWith an ongoing push by the maritime community to reduce ship emissions to satisfy IMO MARPOL Annex VI regulations and limit the sulfur content of ships from 01 January 2020 to 0.5 percent world-wide, many ship owners are starting to consider hydrogen fuel cell technology to satisfy evolving emissions regulations. To date, hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on research programs to utilize hydrogen fuel cells for transportation.

On June 20, 2019, Ocean Network Express (ONE) operated vessel, NYK EAGLE, was involved in a combined rescue operation involving Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers. NYK EAGLE safely rescued 6 crew members from a sinking coastal vessel in the Eastern Gulf of Aden.NYK EAGLE was navigating the ocean when it received a request from CMF to assist a small sinking coastal vessel, as NYK EAGLE was closest to the affected vessel. A thorough and cautious rescue approach was carried out by NYK EAGLE on the small sinking coastal vessel, rescuing 6 crew members. 2 other crew members were airlifted by the Japan Navy helicopter and taken to the Japan Naval.

It has been ten years since the U.S. Salvage and Marine Firefighting Regulations were published: Is it time for a reassessment of the U.S. marine salvage posture?In 1982, the National Research Council’s Committee on the National Salvage Posture prepared a study entitled, “Marine Salvage in the United States.” The goal of the report was “to assess the present national posture for coping with ship rescue salvage and towing situations for time-critical offshore salvage in general.”…

American multinational energy corporation ConocoPhillips has rewarded services firm TechnipFMC with a Global Supplier Recognition Award.According to a press release from the UK-based oil and gas services provider, the international awards go to businesses that have made an impact on ConocoPhillips’ business and shown ‘exceptional leadership and commitment to their SPIRIT values’.TechnipFMC was recognized in the ‘Focus on Doing Business Better’ category for its collaborative work…

Singapore-based LNG company Pavilion Energy said its wholly owned subsidiary Pavilion Energy Trading & Supply has agreed to buy Spanish energy company Iberdrola's portfolio of liquefied natural gas (LNG) assets.The portfolio comprises about 4 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of Iberdrola's long-term LNG sale and supply contracts.It also includes long-term regasification of approximately 2 mtpa at the Grain LNG terminal (UK), regasification access in Spain and the Spanish-France border pipeline capacity, as well as the time-charter of a newbuild MEGI LNG vessel.

German shipbuilder Meyer Werft has laid the keel for the British P&O Cruises’ first-ever LNG ship, which will be named Iona and be the greenest cruise ship in the UK when she debuts in May 2020.The keel laying ceremony at the Meyer Werft  in Papenburg marked the official start for assembling the hull of the new luxury liner for the United Kingdom. The ship will be handed over to the customer in spring 2020.The traditional keel laying coins were placed by Paul Ludlow (President…

The Port of Cork in Ireland has signed a collaboration agreement with the Port of Amsterdam International, a deal which will see both ports look to strengthen each other.Ireland is an important trading partner for the Netherlands. In 2017, the country exported over 5.5 billion euros of goods to the Netherlands. This makes the Netherlands the sixth biggest export destination for Irish goods.In the same year, Ireland imported over 3.5 billion euros worth of goods from the Netherlands.

Happy 80th birthday Maritime Reporter & Engineering News! Eighty years is a significant publishing and business accomplishment!Birthdays always cause a look back. An 80-year review starts in 1939, the close of one very challenging decade, the start of events still reverberating today. History’s most important history is contained in the last 80 years.Energy dominated every one of those decades. Consider energy use, say, starting after World War II, from 1950 to 1975. There was power for everything…

The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow shipping lane between Iran and Oman named after the fabulously wealthy ancient kingdom of Ormus, has fascinated oil traders since the Iranian revolution in 1979. Iran has periodically threatened to close the strait to enemy shipping, while the United States and its allies have pledged to keep it open and maintain freedom of navigation, by force if necessary.The strait has become a symbolic flashpoint in the region-wide confrontation and indirect…

Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease. It is so contagious that 90% of non-immune persons will become infected if an infected person is in the immediate vacinity. It is an airborne disease spread through coughs, sneezes, and contact with saliva or nasal secretions. The virus can live for up to two hours in infected airspace or on infected surfaces. Individuals are infectious from four days before symptoms appear until four days after the patient is symptom-free. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes, and a red, flat rash.

Southampton, United Kingdom: It has been quite a few years since I last touched down in the UK; longer still for a visit on a maritime business trip. And, I don’t cross 'the big pond' casually for one these events. This morning, Seawork 2019 in Southampton is not yet over but if the past two days have been any indication at all, then the entire event will be regarded as a rousing success for all involved.There is something for everyone here. I overheard one attendee refer to the event as the annual gathering of “the boys and their toys.” To be sure…

BMT Group Ltd (previously British Maritime Technology) said that Sarah Kenny, Chief Executive of BMT has been appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours.The accolade, for services to the Maritime Industry, and Diversity, reflects her long-standing commitment and contribution to supporting and promoting the United Kingdom’s maritime industries, in addition to her work on STEM and promoting the importance and value of diversity in the sector.Sir John Hood…

International Maritime Organization (IMO)  was on hand to offer advice and guidance at the third edition of the Arctic Council's Arctic Shipping Best Practice Information Forum, held in London, United Kingdom (3-4 June).The Forum supports the effective implementation of IMO's Polar Code. This year's theme was "'From Theory to Practice" and provided an opportunity for sharing of best practices and experiences.The Forum was attended by representatives from a range of stakeholders with an interest in safe and environmentally sound Arctic shipping…

Canadian Québec Port Authority (QPA) has signed a long-term commercial agreement with Hong Kong's Hutchison Ports and Canadian National Railway (CN) to build and operate a new container terminal, known as project Laurentia.The agreement increases Hutchison Ports' global network to 52 ports spanning 27 countries including the United Kingdom, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, China, Pakistan, Egypt, Argentina, Mexico and Panama, said a press release.Hutchison…

The Norwegian oil and gas operator focused on the Middle East and the North Sea, DNO ASA said it has completed the private placement of USD 400 million of new, five-year senior unsecured bonds with a coupon rate of 8.375 percent.The bond placement received strong investor demand across international markets and was oversubscribed, said a press release from Norway's oldest oil company. The bond issue is expected to be settled on or about 29 May 2019, subject to customary conditions precedent.An application will be made for the bonds to be listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.

Britain's transport minister was under fresh pressure to resign after the government stacked up a 50 million pound ($65 million) loss for cancelling contracts to charter extra ferries to bring in essential supplies in the event of a no-deal Brexit.The decision to award the contracts has been a major political embarrassment after it emerged the government handed out a 14 million pound contract for extra ferries to a company that owned no ferries and published terms and conditions on its website that appeared to be for a takeaway food business.Then…