Finland Recovers Anchor in Baltic Sea Cable Investigation
Finnish police said on Tuesday they had recovered a lost anchor from the seabed as part of an investigation of suspected sabotage against power and internet cables in the Baltic Sea.Finland last month seized the Eagle S tanker carrying Russian oil on suspicion the vessel had damaged the Finnish-Estonian Estlink 2 power line and four telecom cables by dragging its anchor across the seabed."The location where the anchor was found is along the route of the Eagle S ...
Shandong Port Group Bans 'US-designated' Vessels
Shandong Port Group has banned U.S.-sanctioned tankers from calling into its ports in the eastern Chinese province, home to many independent refiners that are the biggest importers of oil from countries under U.S. embargo, three traders said.The province imported about 1.74 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil from Iran, Russia and Venezuela last year, accounting for about 17% of China's imports, ship tracking data from Kpler showed.If enforced…
Damen Delivers Patrol Vessel for Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Sector
Damen Shipyards Cape Town has delivered an FCS 3307 patrol vessel to Homeland Integrated Offshore Service (Homeland IOSL) in Nigeria.This vessel, on charter with an international energy company, will perform offshore patrol duties to enhance the security of personnel, assets, and the environment in Nigerian maritime territories.This delivery marks the tenth Damen vessel to join the Homeland fleet,…
RAK Ports Become First PSMC-Certified in UAE
RAK Ports, a group of five ports located in the United Arab Emirates, has become the first in the region to achieve compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC), the UK standard for port marine safety.Although RAK Ports operates outside of the UK, the principles of the PMSC draw on internationally recognized legislation and best practice for port marine safety management.The port operations undertaken variously across the group of five ports are extensive…
Keel Laid for Selar’s Wind and Sun-Powered Cruise Vessel
Marine and energy services firm Goltens has hosted a keel-laying ceremony on for the innovative Polar expedition vessel Captain Arctic, which has been purpose-designed for sustainable maritime travel.The ceremony, held in November, welcomed CEO Sophie Galvagnon and Technical Director Pierrick Delaunay of the ship's French owner, Selar, while Goltens' shipbuilder client, Chantier Naval de l'Ocean Indien (CNOI)…
Thordon Bearings Expands Baltic Presence
Thordon Bearings has appointed Axioma servisas as its sales, service and distribution lead for Lithuania as part of its strategy to penetrate new and emergent markets.Vilnius-headquartered Axioma servisas, which has been servicing, maintaining, installing and commissioning technology solutions for companies across the Baltic’s industrial sectors for more than two decades, has been tasked with expanding…
Advisers try to Pump Brakes on Trump LNG Export Pledge
Advisers to U.S.President-elect Donald Trump are urging him to take a patient approach to restarting approvals for liquefied natural gas export licenses, fearing rapid approvals will only get overturned in court, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.The recommendations offer a preview of the challenges Trump will face as his bold campaign promises to slash regulation and unfetter industry crash into the reality of governing an unwieldy bureaucracy.In an election-year move…
Chinese Shipping Company, Shipbuilders Designated "Military Companies" by U.S.
As geopolitical tensions rise globally, and President Trump prepares to reenter the White House later this month, focus turns to the maritime sector and China's growing dominance. So when the U.S. Department of Defense released on the Federal Register on January 7, 2025 a "Notice of Chinese military companies operating in the United States," a trio of prominent maritime companies Cosco Shipping Holdings Co.; China State Shipbuilding Corp. and China Shipbuilding Trading Co.
FMD’s Hunt Valve Wins $96M in POs for Submarine Valves
Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management (Arcline), announced that its Hunt Valve operation has been awarded purchase orders totaling $96 million to provide valves in support of the construction of 12 new Virginia-class and five Columbia-class submarines. This includes ship service ball valves and forged high-pressure system valves.The contract makes Fairbanks Morse Defense among the largest suppliers to these submarine programs.
Maritime News Roundup: Shipbuilding, Wreck Removals and Subsea Security
A few choice 'news of note' from other leading new sources around the globe - January 6, 2025.2025 Target: $18.5B in Shipbuilding OrdersAccording to Business Korea, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering set its shipbuilding target for 2025 at $18.5B, a mammoth jump from last year's $13.5B target. Of the $18.5B, $9.7 is targeted to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries; $3.8B for HD Hyundai Mipo; and $4.5B…
Subsea Cables "Torn Apart" by External Force, says Elisa
A pair of telecomm cables appeared to have been torn apart by a strong external force, Finland's Elisa said today, adding that they had now been repaired. The cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea on Dec. 25, 2024.Finnish police seized the Eagle S tanker carrying Russian oil on Dec. 26 and said they suspected that the vessel had damaged the Finnish-Estonian Estlink 2 power line and four telecoms cables…
Amid Falling Suez Canal Revenue, Egypt to get $1.2 bln IMF Boost
Egypt is expected to receive a $1.2 billion disbursement from the International Monetary Fund this month as part of an $8 billion program with the international lender, Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk said on Sunday.Last month, the IMF said it reached a staff-level agreement with Egypt on the fourth review of the 46-month Extended Fund Facility arrangement, potentially unlocking the $1.2 billion disbursement."The (IMF's executive) board will convene in January and…
BoatUS' Sensenbrenner Appointed to NBSAC
Ted Sensenbrenner, BoatUS Foundation Director of Boating Safety, has been appointed by Director of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas as a Representative to the National Boating Safety Advisory Committee (NBSAC).A coalition of recreational boating safety, state boating officials, national boating organizations, and boat and equipment manufacturers, NBSAC provides valuable assistance to the Department of Homeland Security…
New Bunkering Service Debuts in Canadian Port
The port of Prince Rupert has welcomed the startup of Wolverine Terminals’ marine bunkering service for deep sea shipping, adding a key logistical capability to this strategic deepwater port on the west coast of Canada. Using a unique pair of barges designed by Robert Allan Ltd., Wolverine Terminals can deliver a wide range of fuels to suit the needs of vessels calling at the port, including marine diesel…
Norris Joins Shipbuilder as New Marine Fabrication Vice President
Vigor announced that Mark Norris has joined the company as Vice President of Marine Fabrication, to be based in the company's Vancouver, Washington facility.Vigor is currently in production on the Maneuver Support Vehicle (Light), or MSVL, the U.S. Army’s new generation landing craft. He will be responsible for growing and maintaining an experienced, skilled team, while leading Vigor’s defense and…
Cyber Security in the Maritime Sector - What You Need to Know Now
The U.S. Coast Guard proposes to update its maritime security regulations by adding regulations specifically focused on establishing minimum cybersecurity requirements for U.S.-flagged vessels, Outer Continental Shelf facilities, and U.S. facilities subject to the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 regulations. This proposed rule would help to address current and emerging cybersecurity threats in the marine transportation system.
US Port Labor Talks to Resume on Tuesday
Contract talks covering 45,000 dockworkers on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts are set to restart on Tuesday in a labor dispute that will help set the pace of automation at ports stretching from Maine to Texas.The International Longshoremen's Association wants to eliminate past labor contract concessions on automation - notably the use of semi-automated cranes that stack containers on docks - arguing they pose a threat to jobs.The United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employer group…
Additional Sanctions Possible for Russian Oil tankers
The Biden administration plans to impose more sanctions on Russia over its war on Ukraine, taking aim at its oil revenues with action against tankers carrying Russian crude, three sources with knowledge of the matter said.President Joe Biden's administration has sought to shore up support for Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20, given the Republican leader's frequent complaints about the cost of U.S. support for Ukraine."It's a very substantial package.
US Storm, Weaker Dollar Push Oil to 12-week High
Oil prices edged up to a 12-week high on Monday as a winter storm boosted demand for energy to heat U.S. homes and businesses, and on support from a weaker U.S. dollar and expectations of tighter sanctions on Iranian and Russian oil exports.Brent futures rose 27 cents, or 0.4%, to $76.78 a barrel by 11:33 a.m. EST (1633 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 27 cents, or 0.4%, to $74.23.Both…
Philippines' Maritime, Air assets to watch China's 'monster ship'
The Philippines has deployed air and sea assets of its military and coast guard in its exclusive economic zone to monitor China's largest coast guard vessel, calling the ship's presence an act of Chinese "intimidation, coercion and aggression".According to the Philippine coast guard, the 165 m (541 ft) long vessel 5901, referred to by the Philippines as "the monster", was 65 to 70 nautical miles off…
