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Norway’s Kanfer Shipping, Egypt’s Leth Suez Transit and Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (Egas) are looking to join forces with commodity traders in order to establish a strategic and competitive liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering hub in the Suez Canal by 2025.

Egas has initiated the establishment of a joint venture that will charter the bunkering vessel, take care of the administration, including daily operation, and also purchase its LNG or from other sources to trade it to shipowners and the shipping industry.

Leth Agencies and Kanfer said they are now primarily seeking experienced joint venture partners within bunkering and commodity trading who can take an active part in creating a business model for this “high potential and attractive” project in Egypt.

Egypt’s natural gas resources and liquefaction facilities are said to be one of the key advantages for LNG bunkering, which puts the country in a competitive position against the key LNG bunkering hubs of the world. Egypt has LNG sources in Damietta, IDKU terminal and the FSRU stationed in Ain Sokhna that give flexibility and more opportunities for LNG bunkering in both Port Said and Suez.

“The key LNG hubs of the world must import the LNG to their terminals, which adds considerable cost to the end-users. We are confident that the JV can provide competitive prices to the key ports and hubs such as Singapore and ARA. We believe that this will attract shipowners and influence their decision-making on where they will replenish LNG,” said managing partner in Kanfer, Stig Hagen.

Egas said it is able to allocate a substantial volume of LNG to this growing segment in order to make the shipping industry, Suez Canal and Egypt greener. “This will be an important step for Egypt and attract more business to the Suez Canal,” added Admiral Osama Mounier Mohamed Rabie chairman and managing director of the Suez Canal Authority.

Kanfer noted that as more than 20,000 ships are transiting the Suez Canal annually and all ships have waiting time before the daily convoy commences, they can use the time efficiently to replenish bunkers in Port Said, Suez, or other important ports along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast.

Source: https://splash247.com/kanfer-egas-and-leth-agencies-look-to-establish-suez-lng-bunkering-hub/

Yesterday marked the second anniversary of the grounding of the Wakashio bulk carrier off Mauritius, the most high profile shipping casualty of the decade so far. Two years on, legal cases continue to mount.

A coalition of around 1,700 citizens living around where the giant vessel broke up are filing a case to the Supreme Court in Mauritius demanding the Japanese owner of the newcastlemax pay more in damages than the earlier agreed sum of $16.8m.

Latest data shows 2,321 local claims out of around 5,000 filed have been processed.

Preliminary findings of the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) on the accident, which saw more than 1,000 tons of bunker fuel wash ashore when the ship broke in two, show a long list of errors. The captain hove to shore so his crew could get a wifi signal. Investigators also believe the ship did not have the right chart onboard. Moreover, the wrong chart was used and with the wrong scale as well.

Source: https://splash247.com/wakashio-claims-row-escalates/

Seafarers have won the right to mandatory internet access while at sea, under an update to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) agreed in May. What this will mean in practice will not become clear any time soon; shipowners are under no obligation to provide the service for free and coverage will vary according to location and business priority.

What is in no doubt is that shipowners will have to increase their investment in cyber security and training, now that seafarers can – at least in theory – demand access to the internet using personal devices and ships’ equipment.

Capt. Kuba Szymanski, Secretary General of shipmanagers association InterManager also welcomed the change. While noting that many third party and in-house managers already provide shipboard internet access, he warned the devil may be in the detail.

“Seafarers have the right to access but do they have coverage in the locations they are sailing? Busy routes will have a good level of coverage, quieter routes probably much less,” he points out. Until now, owners and managers have worked to a ‘best practice’ standard and the remainder will have no choice but to catch-up and there should be no exceptions. “Seafarers are no different to any other workers “and we don’t ask for special treatment, just equitable treatment,” he added.

The increase in access and traffic via satellite comes at a time when warnings are increasing of the potential for hackers to target the maritime sector in a bid to disrupt global trade.

Rear Admiral Wayne Arguin, the US Coast Guard’s assistant commandant for prevention policy, recently told Bloomberg News that shipping faces cyber risks similar to those in other industries but that the stakes are so much higher given the volume of global trade that moves by sea. While Arguin declined to put a number on the frequency of attempted attacks, he said “I feel very confident that every day networks are being tested, which really reinforces the need to have a plan.

“A potential intentional attack could really stress the system and we’re certainly thinking about how to shore that up,” Arguin said. “When you couple that with the sensitivity of supply-chain disruptions, it does have the potential to be devastating to the marine transportation system.”

Maritime risk consultant Rahul Khanna told Bloomberg there is “huge underreporting” when ships are attacked and “the ones who say they haven’t been, just don’t know about it.”

Across industry and government, there’s agreement that information sharing needs to increase. “Everybody needs to be all-in in this game and understand when there are vulnerabilities – getting that information out quickly is going to be thing that continues to help us close doors,” Arguin added. Remember too that the US delegation to the IMO was one of the prime movers behind the IMO2021 cyber amendments to the ISM Code, so further regulatory tightening seems likely.

Shipowners operating in European waters and calling ports in the European Union will have little choice but to pay more attention to cyber security and take action to secure their assets. Owners and port operators will soon be subject to the European Union’s updated Network and Information Security (NIS) directive which will apply to companies involved in freight and passenger transport in the EU, along its coasts routes and inland.

In readying for compliance with the amended MLC, shipowners need to assess and prepare for five threat vectors – systems and software, unprotected operational technology, infected devices, social engineering and operational safety.

For those vessels operating on legacy systems or even only using the mandatory GMDSS service, the change could be dramatic. Ships are at risk from infection from hackers scanning for vulnerable operating systems and data streams from Operational Technology onboard needs to be assessed and understood. Personal devices brought onboard may need to be subject to quarantine and permitted applications but crew also need to be protected from ‘Social Engineering’ scams that exploit loneliness.

Always-on internet connectivity transforms a ship from an asset with regular but limited internet access to the world of interactive, constantly updated internet and social content. That creates risks for which many vessel operators may simply be unprepared. Marlink views the amendment of MLC as a positive benefit for seafarers, but we believe that the risks to personal and operational safety must be carefully considered too, and managed through awareness/training as well organisational, technical and operational measures.

Source: https://splash247.com/an-ocean-of-risk-managing-new-cyber-threats-from-mlc-amendments/

The financial situation at the largest shipping company in the Philippines has been brought into focus after a sister firm defaulted on a $4m debt to banks last week.

Chelsea Logistics & Infrastructure Holdings is the shipping part of the sprawling Udenna Group, run by local tycoon oil trader Dennis Uy. Shipping brands controlled by Chelsea Logistics include OSV and tanker specialist Chelsea Shipping Corp, Trans-Asia Shipping Lines, Starlite Ferries, TASLI Services, SuperCat Fast Ferry Corporation, and Worklink Services.

A unit of Uy’s holding company was served with a default notice last week over a real estate development he is carrying out at Clark airport. The default has sparked concern about the scale of the debts at the group. Latest data from the end of 2020 show the group, which is also involved in casinos and telecommunications, had debts of $4.6bn, a figure that doubled in the space of three years.

The group stressed yesterday that it has resolved last week’s default issue.

Source: https://splash247.com/default-causes-alarm-for-the-largest-shipping-company-in-the-philippines/

Speaking about the attack carried out by Russia in the Odessa Port, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitriy Peskov said, “Military infrastructure was targeted in the attack, the grain export port was not hit.” Peskov said that the cruise missile attack on the Odessa Port would not affect grain exports.

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitriy Peskov stated that Russia carried out an attack on only military infrastructures in the Port of Odessa and said, “(Attacks) have nothing to do with the infrastructure used to implement grain shipment agreements. This does not and should not affect the start of the shipment process.”

Peskov made statements to reporters in the capital Moscow about the signing of the “Secure Shipment of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports Initiative Document” between Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations (UN).

Peskov said that a very intense work has been put into place in order to reach the agreements for grain shipment and said, “But let’s wait to be able to make an assessment of the functioning of the mechanisms created according to these agreements.”

Pointing out that the UN should also do its part on the indirect restrictions on Russian grain and fertilizer producers, Peskov said, “There are no direct restrictions, but there are indirect restrictions that prevent these shipments from being fully made, which is very necessary for international markets, especially in regions where hunger has begun to materialize. This is very important,” he said.

‘ATTACKS AGAINST MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE’

Peskov also conveyed the following regarding Russia’s missile attack on the Odessa Port on July 23:

“These attacks relate only to military infrastructure. It has nothing to do with the infrastructure used to implement grain shipment agreements. This does not and should not affect the start of the shipping process.”

Speaking about the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline, which causes problems between Europe and Russia, Peskov said that Russia provides energy security for Europe and that they do not want gas shipments to the continent to be completely cut off.

Peskov noted that after the commissioning of the turbine engine for Nord Stream, which is expected to be shipped from Canada, natural gas shipments will resume at the maximum technically possible level, adding that “The turbine will be installed, but there are problems with other units as well. The turbine will be installed and the gas will be pumped at the technologically possible level.”

Spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Defense Igor Konashenkov announced that yesterday (July 24) a Ukrainian warship in the port of Odessa, Ukraine, struck the Harpoon anti-ship missile depot, which was given by the USA.

Konashenkov said, “A Ukrainian warship and the Harpoon anti-ship missile depot given by the United States to the Kyiv regime were destroyed at the site of the ship repair factory in the port of Odessa with long-range high-precision missiles launched from the sea. In addition, the production facilities of the ship repair and modernization enterprise of the Ukrainian Navy was deactivated”.

Source: https://www.news2sea.com/attacks-on-odessa-port-will-not-affect-grain-shipments/

Finally, after 10 years the Italian Republic will honor the late Costa Cruises crew member Giuseppe Girolamo, with the highest award for Civil Valor. The award honors Giuseppe’s act of exceptional courage that clearly manifest solidarity, recognizing his heroic act to save others during the Costa Concordia disaster.

The official announcement from the Italian Government about the recognition was received on 12 July, two days after what would have been Giuseppe’s 40th birthday.

“The medal finally gives dignity and value to the generous and grandiose gesture of this extraordinary young man,” said Michele Longo – former mayor of the Municipality of Alberobello.

Giuseppe Girolamo was a 30-year-old musician and was among the 32 victims of the Costa Concordia shipwreck. He did not hesitate in the panic following the sinking of Costa Concordia to give his seat in the lifeboat to a family with two children, despite not being able to swim.

Giuseppe played as a drummer aboard the cruise ship, he enjoyed dancing and entertaining passengers and officers. That fateful evening, after the ship struck rocks off the coast of Giglio Island, following the abandon ship signal, Giuseppe managed to find a place on one of the lifeboats. However, a family remained, with two small children. The young Italian drummer didn’t hesitate for a moment and left his place on the lifeboat by letting them board and save themselves.

Giuseppe’s father said that his son was aware of two things; That this was the last lifeboat and that he did not know how to swim. However in that tragic moment, he reasoned with his heart, he gave his life to save two young children.

The mother of the saved children Antonella Bologna describes Giuseppe as an angel who descended to help her in that desperate moment.

“There was a man dressed in black, in a corner, and I remember saying to him: Please, you have to pick us up, I have two children. In the widespread panic he managed to stay calm and help us. I think he was an angel or he seemed one to me. Because it was only thanks to him that we were able to get into the third lifeboat and take the final seats. After that he disappeared.

Giuseppe drowned, sucked by the water that night.

Ten years later, the citizens of Alberobello and his fellow shipmates still mourn Giuseppe Girolamo and celebrate his heroic gesture.

Source: https://crew-center.com/costa-concordia-crew-member-honored-gold-medal-civil-valor-giuseppe-lost-his-life-save-two-children

Bulk carrier collided with fishing vessel or fish carrier in Busan outer anchorage waters at around 0200 LT (UTC +9) Jul 26. Both ships were under way, both sustained damages, both were anchored after collision. According to available data, bulk carrier can be identified as WOORI SUN, she left anchorage several hours after accident, and resumed sailing in NE direction, destination not specified.

Source: https://www.news2sea.com/bulk-carrier-collided-with-fishing-vessel-off-busan/

Tug BLUE DRAGON 12 suffered explosion and subsequently, sank, in the afternoon Jul 23 in Semoi Setawir, Sungai Sepaku river, upstream from Balikpapan, Eastern Kalimantan Makassar Strait, Indonesia. Of 12 people on board, 4 suffered burns (their condition unknown), 1 went missing, 7 escaped. The tug was waiting for barge Sea Dragon 2712 to be loaded with coal. There were wielding works taking place in stern area, shortly after works started an explosion came about.

Source: https://www.news2sea.com/tug-sank-after-explosion-4-burnt-1-missing-indonesia-tb-blue-dragon-12/

Dozens of ships that do not dock at Samsun Port are waiting in the Black Sea coast.

Ships from different parts of the world have been waiting for days off Samsun Port. It was observed from the high parts of the city that the ships were not in Samsun Port but in the Black Sea offshore. The ordering of the ships anchored in Samsun offshore drew attention visually.

According to the information obtained from the authorities; It was stated that the ships could not approach the port due to the storm in the Black Sea and therefore they anchored around the port.

It was also learned that with the improvement of the weather conditions, the ships will gradually enter the ports in Samsun.

On the other hand, it was also stated that some ships started to unload and load cargo in the port.

Source: https://www.news2sea.com/dozens-of-ships-are-waiting-off-samsun/

Austal Limited (ASX:ASB) reports that its Austal USA subsidiary has been awarded a $156,171,650 fixed-price incentive contract option from the United States Navy for the construction of two Navajo-class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ships (T-ATS 13 and 14).

With the award, the Mobile. Ala., company is now under contract for four T-ATS, having received awards for T-ATS 11 and 12 in October 2021. It started construction on the first of these on July 11.

“It’s a great sign of confidence by the Navy, in the Austal USA team’s ability to deliver both steel and aluminum ships simultaneously, that they have awarded a contract for another two vessels,” said Austal Limited CEO Paddy Gregg. “Congratulations to the Austal USA team on yet another multiple steel vessel contract, which will go even further to demonstrate the company’s diverse capabilities, in aluminum and steel.”

T-ATS is an ocean-going tug, salvage, and rescue ship designed to support the United States Navy’s fleet operations, with a multi-mission common hull platform capable of towing heavy ships. The ships are capable of supporting a variety of missions, including oil spill response, humanitarian assistance, search and rescue and surveillance.

Austal USA will utilize its proven ship manufacturing processes and innovative methods that incorporate lean manufacturing principles, modular construction, and moving assembly lines, all housed under the shipyard’s state-of-the-art enclosed steel production facility. This unique production capability positions Austal USA to meet the ongoing, growing demands of both the Navy and Coast Guard.

Construction on T-ATS 13 and 14 will commence in the second half of 2023 and first half of 2024; with delivery planned for the second half of 2025 and first half of 2026, respectively.

Source: https://www.marinelog.com/shipbuilding/shipyards/shipyard-news/austal-usa-gets-156-million-award-to-build-two-more-t-ats/

Newer Posts

Older Posts

Kanfer, Egas and Leth Agencies look to establish Suez LNG bunkering hub

Wakashio claims row escalates

An ocean of risk? Managing new cyber threats from MLC amendments

Default causes alarm for the largest shipping company in the Philippines

Attacks on Odessa Port will not affect grain shipments

Costa Concordia Crew Member Honored Gold Medal for Civil Valor – Giuseppe lost his life to save two children

Bulk carrier collided with fishing vessel off Busan

Tug sank after explosion, 4 burnt, 1 missing, Indonesia | TB BLUE DRAGON 12

Dozens of ships are waiting off Samsun.

Austal USA gets $156 million award to build two more T-ATS

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Crew Fatigue, Rest-Hour Compliance and the Role of CrewExpress STCW

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