North Sea O&G Licences Trigger Oceana UK Legal Action
Britain's decision to issue dozens of new oil and gas exploration licences is being challenged in court by a marine conservation organization, which argues ministers unlawfully failed to consider the impact on marine life.Oceana UK is taking legal action over 31 licences issued under Britain's previous government in May this year as part of the North Sea Transition Authority's latest oil and gas licensing round.An exploration licence does not necessarily result in a producing field, though envir
Sources Say Germany to Take a Big Stake in Meyer Werft
The German government plans to take a temporary majority stake in Meyer Werft, one of the world's top cruise ship builders, as part of measures to support the company, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is said to visit shipbuilder Meyer Werft today, raising union hopes for government support for the company which is battling to fill a 2.7 billion euro ($3 billion) hole in its finances.Meyer Werft…
Kongsberg Maritime Adds to Rim Drive Azimuth Thruster Range
Kongsberg Maritime has launched a new Rim-drive Azimuth Thruster, the RD-AZ-2300.The RD-AZ-2300, with a propeller diameter of 2,300mm, sits between the existing RD-AZ-1900 and RD-AZ-2600 models and is suited for vessels operating in demanding environments such as offshore wind farms, where precise maneuverability and low noise levels are crucial.In adherence to DNV’s Silent R classification, the RD…
Report: Observer Program Failing Australian Sheep
A report released by Australia’s Inspector-General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports highlights ongoing and systemic failures within Australia’s Independent Observer program designed to provide independent reporting of animal welfare at sea.The program was established after the 2017 death of over 2,400 sheep on the livestock carrier Awassi Express (now Anna Mara). The sheep died of heat stress…
Methanol Institute Granted Consultative Status at IMO
The Methanol Institute (MI) has been granted consultative status by the IMO.Consultative status is reserved for non-governmental, international organizations that have the capability to make a substantial contribution to the work of IMO. MI will now be able to attend meetings as an observer and offer expert input on discussions in plenary and working groups.MI aims to use its consultative status to…
NYK System Adjusts Frequency to Reduce Fuel Consumption of Marine Generators
NYK has tested its Hz Navi system which can reduce the energy consumption of marine generators by lowering their frequency.Current generator frequencies are set so that onboard equipment such as pumps and motors, which operate in conjunction with the power supply frequency, can perform adequately even under the worst conditions. However, operating at the normal frequency during normal navigation consumes extra power.
Barge Confirmed as Earliest Known Wreck in Swan River
A barge wreck found in September last year has been confirmed as the earliest known shipwreck discovered to date in Western Australia's Swan River, the WA Museum said. The barge was identified as one that lost in 1882 while carrying limestone from Fremantle to Perth.The State Government's release of detailed 3D multibeam surveys of the Swan River riverbed played a crucial role in the initial discovery of the wreck…
CMA CGM Belem Loses 99 Containers off South Africa
The containership CMA CGM Belem has arrived safely at anchorage in the Port of Ngqurha after losing nearly 100 containers in heavy seas off the coast of South Africa.The Maltese-flagged vessel suffered a significant stow collapse and a loss of 99 containers overboard while encountering severe weather off the coast of Richards Bay on the night of August 15, the South African Maritime Safety Authority…
Tanker Adrift After Coming Under Attack in Red Sea
A Greek-flagged tanker was adrift in the Red Sea on Wednesday after repeated attacks that started a fire on the vessel and caused the ship to lose power, the UK maritime agency said.Iran-aligned Houthi militants have launched attacks on international shipping near Yemen since November in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas. They did not immediately claim responsibility for Wednesday's attacks.Passengers on two small boats attacked the Sounion…
Pilot Was Asleep at the Helm When Towboat Hit Louisiana Pier
The pilot of a towboat that struck an industrial cargo pier near Saint Rose, La., last year had fallen asleep, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Wednesday.The pilot of the Marquette Transportation owned and operated towing vessel John 3:16 was experiencing the effects of fatigue during his watch on September 12, 2023, while navigating the Lower Mississippi River. NTSB investigators concluded the pilot had less than two hours of continuous sleep before taking the watch…
Four Bodies Recovered from Sunken Yacht in Sicily
Four bodies were retrieved on Wednesday from the sunken wreck of a yacht belonging to the wife of British tech magnate Mike Lynch, the Italian fire brigade said, adding that they were continuing to search for two missing people.The bodies were brought ashore on rescue boats and taken to nearby hospitals for formal identification. Local authorities refused to give any information about who they might…
Hudspeth Joins Elliott Bay Design Group as Director of Sales
Joe Hudspeth has joined Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering firm Elliott Bay Design Group as director of sales. He will be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with existing clients, identifying and pursuing new business opportunities, and supporting strategic expansion and growth.Hudspeth brings to the role more than 20 years of commercial maritime industry experience…
Argentina Health Officials Rule Out Suspected Case of mpox on Grains Ship
Health officials in Argentina said on Wednesday that a test to determine if a crew member on a quarantined grains cargo ship was infected with the mpox virus had come back negative, according to a statement from the health ministry.The crew member, an Indian national who had developed cyst-like skin lesions on his chest and face, was working on the ship that was traveling along a key commodities route…
Oil Spill Cleanup Ramps Up as Grounded Vessel Ultra Galaxy Breaks Apart in South Africa
Efforts are ramping up to recover oil spewing from a grounded cargo vessel that's being torn apart in stormy weather off the coast of South Africa, officials said.Salvage efforts have been ongoing since the Panamanian-registered general cargo vessel Ultra Galaxy drifted onto a sand bank close to Doring Bay, about 186 miles north of Cape Town, on July 9 after the ship's crew abandoned the vessel when it started taking on water.In recent days…
Shipbuilder Meyer Werft Expecting 'Good News' from German Chancellor Visit
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit Meyer Werft on Thursday, the luxury shipbuilder said, raising hopes that it could secure support from the government as it seeks to fill a 2.7 billion euro ($3.00 billion) hole in its finances."We expect the chancellor to bring good news with him," Thomas Gelder of the IG Metall union told Reuters."It's a very positive sign for the workforce and the region, and also a sign of appreciation that Mr Scholz is coming," he added.The state premier and the econo
Two Bodies Found Inside Sunken Yacht off Sicily
Scuba divers scouring the wreck of British tech magnate Mike Lynch's family yacht, which sank off Sicily two days ago, have found two bodies inside it, a source close to rescue operations said on Wednesday.One of the bodies belonged to a heavily built man, the source said.Rescue officials have been looking for six missing people, including Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter and Jonathan Bloomer, a non-executive chair of Morgan Stanley International.The British-flagged Bayesian…
Accusations Fly Between China, Philippines in Maritime Squabble
The Philippines said China's Coast Guard was not helping efforts to build confidence in the South China Sea, after accusing it of ramming and damaging its vessels in the latest in a succession of altercations.The Philippines urges China to refrain from aggressive actions and adhere to international law, said Alexander Lopez, a spokesperson for the country's maritime council, an inter-ministerial body…
Bahri to Spend $1B on VLCC Vessels
The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) signed a purchase agreement to acquire nine Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) from Capital Maritime and Trading Corporation for approximately $1B, the company said.The purchase is part of a modernization drive and will enable the company to start phasing out older vessels, Bahri said in a statement issued via Saudi Arabia's stock exchange.The ships will be delivered before the end of the first quarter of 2025, with Bahri paying for 10% of th
And the Winner is ... Singapore ... (again)
Singapore announced top maritime centre for 11th consecutive yearThe Baltic Exchange, in collaboration with Xinhua News Agency, announced the release of the 2024 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Center Development Index (ISCDI) Report. Now in its 11th year, the report ranks the world’s leading shipping centers.For the 11th consecutive year, Singapore was recognized as the world’s leading shipping center, achieving a score of 96.23 out of 100.
Norway Eyes Increased Oil and Gas Exploration Through 2050
According to the Norwegian Offshore Directorate's projected scenarios leading up to 2050, the difference between high and low production of oil and gas can amount to nearly an entire government pension fund.Norway still has extensive oil and gas resources on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS). This can provide a basis for high levels of production, export and value creation for the broader society for many years to come, according to the new resource report.
