Chemical tanker MARITIME POLARIS contacted berthed unidentified cargo ship, most probably bulk carrier, at Sudan Port, Sudan, on Jun 13. Tanker entered port and was proceeding to berth, when accident occurred. Both ships sustained some damages, believed to be slight. Accident took place hours after livestock carrier disaster AL BADRI 1 at Suakin Port, Sudan.
New FleetMon Vessel Safety Risk Reports
Bulk carrier OMICRON NIKOS struck pier at Santos Port, Brazil, at around noon Jun 13, understood while shifting berths. The ship is said to be loaded with 71,000 tons of sugar, reportedly she didn’t suffer serious damages, though damages assessment is still under way, to assess ship’s seaworthiness. Bulk carrier remains berthed as of morning Jun 14. She was docked at Santos on Jun 10, arriving from Vietnam via Singapore.
New FleetMon Vessel Safety Risk Reports
President Joe Biden is traveling to the sprawling Port of Los Angeles today to deliver a speech about inflation and the supply chain. The speech comes amid a big increase in costs for American consumers over the past year as inflation accelerated sharply.
The White House bills the speech as a speech about the progress of the global supply chain returning to normal. After all, many of the delays which plagued the U.S. – especially for goods coming from Asia – have started to ease. At the same time, shipping container rates have showed some signs of beginning to stabilize. However, even if rates stabilize, they are much higher than pre-Covid, suggesting consumers will still be feeling the pain at the register for months to come.
There’s one big issue for the Biden White House, however: costs are up big time in the U.S. and around the world. Even though U.S. inflation is slower compared to the rest of the world, U.S. inflation is still high and Americans are feeling it. Will American consumers even cafe about the President’s efforts to jumpstart the global supply chain and get delays under control if prices continue to climb higher and higher?
With U.S. midterm elections only months away, President Biden needs to portray that he is doing everything he can to tamper inflation and deliver consumer goods on time. The Port of Los Angeles, the nation’s busiest along with Long Beach, is the perfect backdrop with giant cranes and thousands of shipping containers. After all, goods have started moving again after months of slowdowns, delays, and empty containers. However, with gas prices soaring over $5.00, China locking down again, and West Coast port workers threatening to strike over ongoing contract negotiations, there may be nothing enough to turn back U.S. consumers view of ever-increasing prices. Only time will tell how successful the effort will be with the American people.
The “White, Grey and Black (WGB) List” presents the full spectrum, from quality flags to
flags with a poor performance that are considered high or very high risk. It is based on the
total number of inspections and detentions during a 3-year rolling period for flags with at
least 30 inspections in the period.
The “White List” represents quality flags with a consistently low detention record.
Flags with an average performance are shown on the “Grey List”. Their appearance on this
list may serve as an incentive to improve and move to the “White List”. At the same time
flags at the lower end of the “Grey List” should be careful not to neglect control over their
ships and risk ending up on the “Black List” next year.
Regarding the “White, Grey and Black List” for 2021, a total number of 68 flags are listed:
40 on the “White List”, 21 on the “Grey List” and 7 on the “Black List”. In 2020 the total
number of flag States on the list was 70 of which 39 on the “White List”, 22 on the “Grey List” and 9 on the “Black List”.
For several years the Committee has closely monitored the performance of ROs acting on
behalf of flag States. To calculate the performance of ROs, the same formula to calculate
the excess factor of the flags is used. A minimum number of 60 inspections per RO is needed before the performance is taken into account for the list. In 2021 33 ROs were recorded on the performance list.
Compared to last year, the RO performance level is at a similar level. It is noteworthy that in the last two years no ROs have been categorised as performing “very low”.
Details of the responsibility of ROs for detainable deficiencies have been published since
1999. When one or more detainable deficiencies are attributed to an RO in accordance with the Paris MoU criteria, it is recorded “RO responsible”. Out of 528 detentions recorded in
2021, 64 (12%) were considered RO related (11% in 2020).
From the 1st of July 2022 the new performance lists will be used for calculating the Ship
Risk Profile.
Source: Paris MOU
here had been little doubt that the bill which will expand the powers of the Federal Maritime Commission over container lines would be passed, and it now moves on to be signed into law by President Joe Biden.
In a statement issued by the Whitehouse President Biden repeated previous comments about lines increasing rates by over 1,000% during the pandemic and carriers refusing to ship US exports back to Asia.
“Lowering prices for Americans is my top priority, and I applaud the Congress for passing the Ocean Shipping Reform Act on a bipartisan basis, which will help lower costs for American retailers, farmers and consumers,” the President said. He added that he looked forward to signing the bill into law.
High ocean freight rates are being blamed for inflation and international container lines with little political sway in Washington represent an easy target.
US National Retail Federation (NRF) Senior Vice President for Government Relations David French stated: “Making OSRA federal law helps address longstanding systemic supply chain and port disruption issues that existed well before the pandemic by providing the Federal Maritime Commission the additional authority it needs.
“These improvements come at a time when inflation has reached a 40-year high. NRF has championed the effort to pass OSRA as one of the steps necessary to Lower Inflation Now and ease pressure on American businesses, workers and consumers.”
The US Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) said OSRA would strengthen the FMC and put in place commonsense reforms that will be instrumental in combatting the current shipping crisis and preventing the next shipping crisis.
Shipping lines that have battled supply chain disruption throughout the pandemic, but come up trumps in terms of record high freight rates.
The World Shipping Council (WSC) stated: “We are appalled by the continued mischaracterization of the industry by US government representatives, and concerned about the disconnect between hard data and inflammatory rhetoric. The 22 (not nine) international carriers that serve the American people, industry and government on the Asia – United States trade are part of the global supply chain that has built this country, importing and exporting food, medicine, electronics, chemicals, and everything else we depend on.”
It said that increased freight rates were due to demand outstripping supply and landside congestion, calling for a commitment to invest in landside logistics infrastructure.
“Until the import congestion is remedied, export congestion will persist. The World Shipping Council will continue to work with federal and state policymakers, as well as other parties, to pursue the necessary lasting solutions – such as continued investment in port infrastructure – that can have real impact in strengthening the intermodal transportation system that has supported the US economy through the pandemic,” WSC added.
ICS will join the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC12) in Geneva this week, as shipowners’ global trade association launches ‘Shipping Policy Principles for Pandemic Recovery’, setting out Calls to Action to governments as national economies seek to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
WTO Conference takes place against the backdrop of ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has forced WTO economists to reassess expectations of merchandise trade growth downward to 3% in 2022, from previous forecasts of 4.7%.
WTO Director General, Okonjo-Iweala, has proposed a formal Dialogue between the WTO and the maritime transport sector, highlighting the importance of collaboration between the WTO and the global shipping industry which moves about 90% of global trade.
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), alongside other leading business organisations, is joining WTO Ministers from across the world in Geneva this week, aiming to deliver concrete results at the organisation’s upcoming 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12).
This Dialogue will serve as an opportunity for senior government officials and industry to exchange views on critical issues and challenges confronting the Multilateral Trading System, in the context of recent developments impacting the global economy, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, global energy crises and recovery from COVID-19.
Speaking ahead of the upcoming Ministerial meeting, Guy Platten, Secretary General at ICS, commented:
“We were very encouraged and fully support Dr Okonjo-Iweala’s message to the shipping industry proposing a formal Dialogue between the WTO and the maritime transport sector. There have been a number of developments which have further emphasised the need for WTO and industry collaboration this past year. ICS and the WTO, as the facilitators of free trade throughout the world, are united on many issues but none more so than our shared values and principles of open and unimpeded access to international markets.
We are committed to engaging with the WTO in this comprehensive Dialogue, and hope that our ICS Shipping Policy Principles will provide a building block for discussions between the shipping industry and governments.”
The new Shipping Policy Principles strengthen the shipping industry’s commitment to the maintenance of a rules-based global trading system and a global regulatory framework which embraces open markets and fair competition; plus strict adherence to internationally adopted standards. ICS outlines ten ‘Policy Priorities’ and complementary ‘Calls to Action’ by governments in critical policy areas, to help support efficiency of the global maritime transport system which carries about 90% of world trade, the majority which now serves the economies of developing countries.
Reference – International Chamber Of Shipping
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will launch a competitive bid process for the construction of its next five hybrid-electric ferries after negotiations stalled with shipbuilder Vigor.
Vigor, which has built a number of existing vessels for WSDOT’s Washington State Ferries (WSF), is currently finalizing designs for the new ferry class and was also lined up to build the vessels, but the shipyard and WSDOT could not agree on price and other contract terms, Patty Rubstello, Assistant Secretary, WSDOT/Ferries Division, wrote in a recent letter to WSF staff.
In 2019, Vigor was pegged to design and build the five 1,500-passenger, 144-vehicle Hybrid Electric Olympic Class (HEOC) ferries following new Washington legislation that allowed WSDOT to extend an existing contract with the Pacific Northwest shipbuilder. Design work is nearly completed, but the construction phase was never reached.
“Unfortunately, we cannot reach agreement with Vigor on either price or contract terms, including the appropriate assignment of risk. Vigor’s proposed terms of the contract differ significantly from those proposed by WSDOT, as does their cost estimate,” Rubstello wrote on May 24. “We notified Vigor today that we are ceasing negotiations and intend to solicit competitive bids to deliver these vessels.”
“We did not take this step lightly. WSDOT must approach contracts with the best interests of taxpayers, whose dollars support our transportation system, foremost in mind. As we have done on multiple other programs, we are utilizing a design-build contract, an approach that limits risk assumed by the state,” Rubstello wrote.
“Vigor is now nearly complete with the functional design that will be used to build the HEOCs,” Rubstello wrote. “Once completed and accepted, WSDOT will own the design and will utilize it for these new vessels.”
The five vessels will be bid out as a single program to Washington shipbuilders, though other yards outside the state could potentially compete for the project if local bids come in at too high a price. State law requires that WSF ferries be built in Washington, unless all in-state bids are more than 5% higher than the state’s own project estimate. The five-vessel program, which the state estimates is worth just over $1 billion, is expected to attract national attention.
“[Washington Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar] has asked the WSF team to move forward with a request for proposal (RFP) to secure a shipbuilder for the HEOC vessels. I have instructed the team to move as quickly as possible. The solicitation and award of a new contract will result in a delay of the first vessel, but we will work to minimize schedule effects as much as possible.”
WSDOT said it aims to launch the bid process this summer, targeting first ferry delivery in June 2027. Subsequent deliveries would come roughly every 14 months through late 2031.
Italian oilfield services firm Saipem has confirmed it has recently been awarded a limited notice to proceed (LNTP) by BW Offshore, for the early-stage engineering services for the supply of an FPSO unit to be supplied to Shell for the development of the Gato do Mato field offshore Brazil.
The oil and gas field is located around 200 km offshore Brazil in the Santos Basin, in water depths of around 2,000 meters.
The LNTP is valued at up to $50 million. Saipem’s share is worth approximately $25 million.
Upon completion of the LNTP, Shell and its partners target to award a lease and operate contract which will include the award of the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) of the FPSO to a consortium between Saipem and BW Offshore, with expected delivery in 2026.
“The award is subject to the parties finalising the commercial and pricing terms of the contract in view of the current inflationary supply chain market and a final investment decision to proceed by Shell and its partners,” Saipem said.
BW Offshore has previously said that the FPSO lease and operate contract would have a firm period of 18 years with seven years of options.
The company said it would replicate the Barossa project model, bringing in equity partners, and “take it one step further by partnering with Saipem for the EPCI phase to add execution capacity and capabilities.”
House appropriators want the Navy to keep five Littoral Combat Ships but will allow the service to decommission four, according to text of the Fiscal Year 2023 defense spending bill.
The legislation, released today by the House Appropriations Committee, would complicate the Navy’s plans to decommission nine Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships next year.
The bill “directs a report on alternate uses of these vessels, such as missions in the [U.S. Southern Command] and [U.S. Africa Command] areas of responsibility; and permits the decommissioning of four ships, which would also allow the Navy and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency to explore the possibility of transferring them to partner nations,” according to a summary from the committee.
Seeking to defend the Navy’s push to decommission the LCSs, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday last month proposed to lawmakers that the service evaluate transferring the ships to countries in South America.
The effort to retire the Freedom variant ships follows two major issues that have affected the class: a problem with the combining gear that marries the gas turbines to the diesel engines and the Navy’s struggle to field the anti-submarine warfare package for the LCS Mission Module on the Freedom hull. Earlier this year the Navy said it would axe the ASW mission for the LCS.
House appropriators largely met the Biden administration’s request, allotting $762 billion in defense spending.
The lower chamber’s bill would allot $27.8 billion for the Navy to buy the eight ships it asked for in the FY 2023 request, including two Virginia-class attack submarines, two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, one Constellation-class frigate, one San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, one T-AO-205 John Lewis-class oiler and one T-ATS 6 Navajo-class towing, salvage and rescue ships.
The House Appropriations Committee’s summary of the legislation noted the panel did not include any research and development funding for the low-yield Sea-Launched Cruise Missile, a program that has become controversial in the last year. Some Republican lawmakers have voiced support for the program, known as SLCM, as have Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher Grady and U.S. Strategic Command chief Adm. Chas Richard. But House Democrats, including House Armed Services Committee chairman Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) have voiced opposition to the program’s development.
As for aircraft procurement, House appropriators allotted funding for the Navy to buy the five MQ-9A Reapers the Marine Corps sought and 12 CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters. The Navy asked for 10 CH-53Ks for the Marine Corps in its budget submission. It also appropriates money for five E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes, meeting the Navy’s request.
It’s unclear where HASC will come down on the LCS decommissionings. The HASC seapower and projection forces subcommittee punted the issue to the chairman’s mark, which the committee will release next week. But some HASC lawmakers have criticized the Navy’s proposal, noting the LCSs have years of service life left.
The Navy’s FY 2023 budget request sought to decommission a total of 24 ships, including the 9 LCSs, but met swift criticism in Congress.
The HASC seapower and projection forces subcommittee’s mark of the defense policy bill would mandate the Navy keep four Whidbey Island-class dock landing ships – USS Germantown (LSD-42), USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44), USS Tortuga (LSD-46) and USS Ashland (LSD-48) – and Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vicksburg (CG-69), which is nearing the end of a modernization overhaul. All five ships were on the Navy’s FY 2023 decommission list.
The fire-stricken passenger vessel Spirit of Norfolk was towed on Sunday to Colonna’s Shipyard where U.S. Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board investigators will continue work to determine what ignited the blaze.
The fire, which broke out aboard the 169-foot-long yacht style passenger vessel last Tuesday, was confirmed extinguished as of 9:58 a.m. Saturday, the Coast Guard said. Officials said early on that the fire is believed to have started in the vessel’s engine room before it spread up all three decks and through the entire length of the 169-foot vessel, though the official investigation is ongoing.
More than 100 passengers, the vast majority of them school children, were rescued from the blaze. No injuries were reported.
Crews continued dewatering efforts through the weekend, and final surveys and stability assessments were conducted to ensure the vessel was safe to tow. Divers also inspected the hull and sealed off access points to prevent water from entering.
The Coast Guard said it will continue to maintain oversight and monitor the vessel, which must request permission from the Captain of the Port for any future movement.
The vessel’s operator, Hornblower’s City Cruises, is working to determine whether the vessel will be declared a total loss.
August 18, 2025
