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West Australia News

02 Nov 2022

Baltic Index Extends Fall on Lower Vessel Demand

©woodpencil

The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index extended its fall to an 11th session on Wednesday, as demand waned across all segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels carrying dry bulk commodities, fell 56 points, or about 4.1%, to 1,321.The capesize index shed 102 points, or about 7.4%, to 1,286.Average daily earnings for capesizes .BATCA, which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as coal and steel-making ingredient iron ore used in construction…

19 Aug 2022

Energy Efficiency Indices: What You Need to Know

Figure 2 shows areas of high Newcastlemax activity. The red area in the North West Australia is centred on the port of Newcastle, the vessel type’s namesake. Source VesselsValue

Decarbonization is the greatest challenge facing the shipping industry today.The effort to reduce emissions and environmental impact extends to all sectors and players and will leave no one in the industry unaffected.The IMO’s effort to decarbonise shipping is a numbers game. The goal, as stipulated in the Initial IMO GHG Strategy, is to reduce the average CO2 emissions per transport work by at least 40% by 2030, compared to 2008 levels., and to pursue a 70% reduction by 2050.The introduction of the EEXI  is part of the IMO’s latest attempt to achieve this goal.

21 Jun 2022

Baltic Dry Index Dips as Larger Vessels Retreat

© yaniv / Adobe Stock

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index fell on Tuesday, snapping a five-day winning streak, pressured by a fall in the capesize and panamax segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, dipped 112 points, or 4.3%, to 2,484.The capesize index lost 321 points, or 10.6%, to 2,710.Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, decreased by $2,661 to 22,477."A potential stronger availability in tonnage has helped boost rates on the West Australia—China trade...

19 May 2022

Baltic Dry Index Gains as Rates Firm for All Vessels

© Igor Groshev / Adobe Stock

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index rose on Thursday, due to higher rates for all vessels.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, was up 100 points, or 3.1%, at 3,289 points, the highest since December 9.The capesize index gained 221 points, or 5.31%, to 4,385 points.Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, were up $1,837 at $36,368.Strong demand for vessels in the far East, with increased activity in both West Australia and Indonesia, is impacting

15 Apr 2021

Baltic Dry Index Scales Over 1-year Peak

© Alexey Lesik / Adobe Stock

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities, rose to its highest level since September 2019 on Thursday as demand strengthened across vessel segments.The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, rose 145 points, or 6.7%, to 2,323, its highest since Sept. 12, 2019.The capesize index advanced 232 points, or 7.4%, to 3,383, its highest level since Oct. 9, 2020Average daily earnings for capesizes…

17 Apr 2020

Retreating Chinese Steel Stockpiles a Positive for Iron Ore Demand -EastGate

(Credit: EastGate)

Chinese steel stockpiles reached record highs amid the coronavirus outbreak, but are now steadily easing. This paints the picture of an increased construction activity and a growing seaborne demand for the key dry bulk commodity of iron ore, says EastGate Shipping Inc. Demand returning to normal levelsSteel inventories in China have been showing a steady downward trend following the all-time highs recorded in mid-March. The virus crisis triggered a nationwide lockdown halting most manufacturing and industrial activities. Subsequently, demand for steel products was negatively affected.

26 Mar 2020

Australia Orders Two Cruise Ships to Leave ... Now!

© Richie Chan/AdobeStock

Australia ordered two cruise ships to leave its waters on Thursday, after a liner that docked in Sydney Harbor last week became the primary source of infection in the country's coronavirus outbreak.Although well below levels elsewhere in the world, the pace of Australia's infections is starting to pick up speed, reaching nearly 2,800 cases and 13 deaths.The government of West Australia state said nobody would be permitted to disembark from the German-operated MV Artania after seven of 800 foreign passengers on board tested positive for the virus…

18 Nov 2019

Shearwater Bags 4D Seismic Gig in APac

Shearwater GeoServices, a marine geophysical services company, has been awarded the largest-ever 4D seismic campaign in the Asia/Pacific region covering up to six fields operated by Woodside offshore Australia.According to the 50/50 joint venture between GC Rieber Shipping and Rasmussengruppen  AS, the campaign, planned to commence in Q4 2019, covers new 4D acquisition over the Pluto, Brunello, Laverda, Cimatti and Vincent fields with an option for one additional field.The 4D seismic campaign will improve Woodside’s understanding of the fields’ production performance over time and provide data to guide future field developments. This is the second 4D seismic campaign award by Woodside to Shearwater following the baseline 4D program in Senegal earlier this year.“By using Isometrix…

30 Jul 2019

Boskalis Wins Woodside Scarborough Contract

Dutch dredging company Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. has been awarded the contract for the seabed intervention and shore crossing activities for Woodside’s proposed Scarborough export gas pipeline in northwest Australia.The contract awarded by Woodside Energy Ltd. (Woodside), in its capacity as operator of the Scarborough Joint Venture, potentially carries a value of EUR 145 million if all options are called and is subject to a final investment decision which is expected in 2020.The contract is for preparatory activities related to offshore deepwater excavation, pipeline crossing, nearshore and shore crossing works for the export trunkline…

28 Apr 2019

Aus PM Promises $1bln for New Navy Ships

The Prime Minister of Australia and leader of the Liberal Party Scott Morrison is promising $1 billion to build three naval ships in Western Australia to create 1000 jobs if the coalition wins the election."We will build two mine warfare support vessels and a hydrographic vessel in Perth," he said in an announcement.On the WA shipbuilding funding Morrison said it would ensure jobs created in the sector would continue to the 2030s."This commitment in West Australia adds to the 31 minor war vessels already being built in the state - built in Australia, by Australian workers, with Australian steel," local media quoted him as saying.A Morrison government would bring forward the replacement of the Huon-class mine hunters from the 2030s to the mid-2020s…

13 Jul 2018

Sea Shepherd Says Endangered Blue Whale Killed in Iceland

An endangered Blue whale has been killed by an Icelandic whaling company Hvalur hf to be sold for export to Japan, a conservationist organization Sea Shepherd said. "Sea Shepherd volunteers monitoring the Hvalur hf whaling station in Hvalfjordur Iceland have documented the slaughter of an endangered Blue whale on the night of July 7th, the 22nd endangered whale killed and butchered for export to Japan by Kristján Loftsson’s commercial whaling company since June 20, 2018," said a press release. Although the first 21 whales killed were endangered Fin whales – which the Icelandic government has permitted Loftsson’s company to slaughter…

05 Jul 2018

Baltic Index Hits Near 7-month High on Rising Capesize Demand

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The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, rose for the sixth straight session on Thursday due to higher demand for capesize vessels.* The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, rose 45 points, or 2.872 percent, to 1,612 points, the highest since Dec. 15.* The capesize index gained 270 points, or 9.843 percent, to 3,013 points, a peak since Dec.

21 Jun 2018

Baltic Index Slips to Two-week Low

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The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index on Thursday fell to its lowest level in two weeks, pulled down by falling rates for capesize and panamax vessels.The overall index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, slid 26 points, or 1.9 percent, to 1,347 points.The capesize index lost 52 points, or 2.5 percent, to end at 2,038 points."Extremely few cargoes out of west Australia, hence the general activity level for Pacific market this week been very low," ship broker Fearnleys said in a weekly report on Wednesday referring to the capesize segment.Average daily earnings f

13 Jun 2018

Bulk Carrier Crew Rescues Six Fishermen

Photo: Wallem

On Saturday, June 9, the captain and crew of the Wallem-managed vessel the bulk carrier KSL Seoul rescued six fishermen after their boat was involved in an accident and subsequently capsized.The KSL Seoul was passing through the Mindoro Strait en route to Port Walcott in West Australia when they spotted the capsized fishing boat, the Sister Reds with six Filipino fishermen clinging onto its hull.The KSL Seoul immediately notified the Philippine coastguard and the local Maritime Rescue Coordinating Council (MRCC) and changed course to approach the boat.

16 Apr 2018

SSY Pacific Capesize Index Rises 312 Points

Shipbrokers Simpson, Spence and Young's Pacific Capesize Index reports a change of 312 points in the week ending Monday to 3,814.   "The SSY Pacific Capesize Index rose by 312 points week-on-week to 3,814 points, ending a run of losses that went back to the end of February. The Pacific round-voyage rate (180k dwt) climbed $3,750/day to a five-week high of $11,750/day, while the West Australia- China iron ore spot rate increased by $1.15/t to $6.40/t." SSY said.

27 Mar 2018

LR Grants Approval in Principle for HHI’s LNG-fueled VLOC

South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has received approval in principle (AiP) from Lloyd’s Register (LR) for a 250,000-deadweight-ton (dwt) class very large ore carrier (VLOC) fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG). HHI, who has been focusing its efforts on LNG-fueled ships ahead of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) SOx emission limitations from 2020, set out on a joint development project (JDP) last year with LR, ship owner and operator ANANGEL and LNG supplier WOODSIDE to develop the LNG-fueled 250,000 dwt VLOC design optimized for the trade route from North West Australia to North Asia, based on the XDF engine.

27 Feb 2018

Lower Capesize Rates Weigh on Baltic Index

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The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, broke a six-day winning streak on Tuesday, dragged lower by lower rates for capesize vessels. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, shed three points or 0.25 percent to end at 1,188 points. The capesize index lost 85 points, or 5.06 percent, to end at 1,595 points. "A slow start for capesize dry bulk trading thus far into the week as limited activity levels…

07 Jan 2016

Dry Aulk Awakens from Slumber

After a quiet holiday period, the market has slowly awakened from its slumber, says the weekly report by Fearnleys A.S. Rates are not running away but the market looks like it is finding a bottom. Averages for a Surpa are now around mid $4,000s and only marginally down from pre Christmas levels. 2016 has started with a couple of period fixtures reported at low $6,000s for Ultramaxes. Thus by default Supras will only be worth something in the $5,000s for a 12 month deal. Activity in the Atlantic seems to increase a bit after X-mas and new year, especially grain from USG and ECSA to far east absorbing tonnage. Transatlantic roundvoyages paying arnd 4000 USD depending delivery, duration and redelivery.

02 Mar 2016

AlphaBridge Installed on Serco Defense Newbuilds

Photo: Alphatron Marine

Alphatron Marine has delivered its AlphaBridge for the Escape Gear Ship (EGS) and Rescue Gear Ship (RGS) built by the Damen Shipyards Group in Vietnam. The multifunction, fully integrated bridge is installed on the 93-meter RGS Stoker and 83-meter EGS Besant, built for Serco Defence to support the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). MV Stoker is the RAN’s newest Rescue Gear Ship, managed by Serco Defence. The Escape Gear Ship Besant will be used to provide an early intervention role in the event of a disabled submarine. Both ships will be based at Fleet Base West, Rockingham, West Australia.

29 Aug 2017

Trelleborg Suite Supplied to Prelude FLNG

Prelude FLNG (Photo: Trelleborg)

Trelleborg’s marine systems operation has supplied a suite of products to Shell’s Prelude FLNG facility, the largest offshore facility ever constructed. Prelude, which is 488 meters long, 74 meters wide, and made with more than 260,000 tons of steel, will extract and liquefy natural gas from a site in North West Australia. Trelleborg supplied its gas transfer technology and SafePilot navigational and piloting systems for Prelude. “Our SafePilot solution, SSL, ESL and radio ESD for tandem condensate offload have been used on Shell’s Prelude FLNG…

09 Jul 2016

Fire at Prelude LNG Construction Site in South Korea

Happier Times: In May 2013 the price per barrel of oil was more than $100 and Shell ha laid the keel for 'Prelude FLNG', the world’s first floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) project. (Courtesy of  Royal Dutch Shell)

Shell said a small fire occurred at the construction site in South Korea for its huge floating Prelude liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, with work resuming immediately and an investigation underway. The incident would not have an impact on the delivery schedule, according to a source in South Korea. Shell has declined to reveal the timetable or the budget for Prelude, based on a giant processing vessel being built in Samsung Heavy Industries' Geoje shipyard that will be towed to a gas field off the west Australia coast.

29 Sep 2015

A Pleasant Sub-prise for Penang Ferry Passengers

The sudden appearance of a submarine has caused excitement among hundreds of ferry users at Penang Port, Malaysia. The Australian navy submarine HMAS Sheean arrived in for a visit Penang at around 11.30am Monday. HMAS Sheean is in the port for the crewmen’s holiday before they start a joint exercise with a Malaysian submarine later. Penang Port Sdn Bhd senior general manager (corporate support division) Md Derick Basir said the vessel, which is 77.8m long and 7.8m wide, will be here until Oct 2. In a statement, the Royal Malaysian Navy said Collins-class submarine HMAS Sheean was in Malaysian waters for a joint exercise with KD Tunku Abdul Rahman in Kota Kinabalu on Oct 12 and Oct 13. HMAS Sheean is the fifth Collins Class Submarine built by the ASC in Adelaide, Australia.

29 Jan 2018

SSY Pacific Capesize Index gain by 432 points

© Anatoly Menzhiliy / Adobe Stock

Shipbrokers Simpson, Spence and Young's Pacific Capesize Index gain by 432 points in the week ending Monday to 4,387. "A weekly gain of 432 points lifts the SSY Pacific Capesize Index to 4,387 points. This is 940 points above the year-ago level. An increase in iron ore chartering activity from West Australia led to a significant improvement in the Pacific, with round-voyage rates (180k dwt) rising by $5,850/day last week to $14,350/day, while the Dampier-China iron ore spot rate climbed by $1.30/t to $6.95/t".