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A bulk carrier that collided with an LNG tanker off Gibraltar started leaking fuel oil, authorities in the British overseas territory on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula said on Wednesday.

The collision on Tuesday forced the closure of the Gibraltar port for four hours. It was later fully reopened.

The hull of the bulk carrier OS 35 broke, authorities said, but the vessel has not separated into two parts.

“There has been a substance leak from the vessel as a result of the movement arising from its break. Initial investigations indicate that this is lube oil,” the Gibraltar government said in a statement.

“Current evidence suggests the fuel on board is well contained and it is hoped that offloading can begin tomorrow.”

The collision happened as the vessel OS 35, loaded with steel bars and carrying over 400 tonnes of fuel, was moving to exit the bay. The Marshall Islands-flagged ADAM LNG arrived in Gibraltar after unloading in Malta. It remains at anchor near the place where the collision took place.

The Gibraltar Port Authority directed the OS 35 to the east side to ensure it could be safely beached to minimize the risk of the vessel sinking. Its 24-strong crew were evacuated.

Source: https://www.marinelink.com/news/bulker-breaking-leaking-oil-collision-off-499156

Aframax tanker AFFINITY V ran aground on 143 kilometer mark because of steering (rudder) failure, while transiting Suez Canal in southern direction, halfway between Bitter Lakes and Suez. Tanker in ballast ran aground at around 2256 UTC Aug 31, Canal Traffic Control tugs quickly responded, and she was refloated half an hour later, according to track and timeline. Tanker completed transit and was anchored at Suez Anchorage at around 0230 UTC Sep 1. Tanker is en route from Portugal to Saudi Arabia, no damages are reported.

Source: https://www.fleetmon.com/maritime-news/2022/39369/aframax-tanker-ran-aground-refloated-suez-canal/

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is organising the 9th edition of the International Safety@Sea Week, from 29 August to 2 September 2022. The annual event brings together top practitioners from the international maritime community to discuss issues relating to safety at sea and share best practices on maritime safety. This year’s anchor event, the International Safety@Sea Conference, was launched by Mr Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Finance, and will be conducted in a hybrid format from 30 to 31 August at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre. The theme for this year’s conference is “Riding the Waves for Maritime Safety” and will feature 20 local and international speakers.

600 participants from more than 30 countries are expected to participate in the sessions across the week. In his opening address, Mr Chee shared several MPA-led initiatives, which enhances safety at sea.

Leveraging on technology and connectivity to build maritime safety capabilities

SMS Chee announced that MPA and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) signed an MOU in mid-August 2022 to develop 5G mobile network capabilities in the maritime domain to enhance digital connectivity in the Port of Singapore. Full maritime 5G coverage in our major anchorages, fairways, terminals, and boarding grounds is scheduled to be delivered by mid-2025 and has the potential to unlock a full suite of maritime solutions leveraging complementary technologies such as artificial intelligence, internet-of-things, big data, drones and autonomous vehicles, to improve safety, effectiveness and efficiencies in maritime operations.

Ms Quah Ley Hoon, Chief Executive, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said, “Digitalisation continues to shape and transform the maritime industry, acting as a key driver for global trends such as logistics and supply chain efficiency and decarbonisation. MPA is taking the lead to help build a robust digital maritime ecosystem for Maritime Singapore, with fast, secure and high capacity 5G connectivity as one of the cornerstones to support real-time data exchanges in the maritime domain. Maritime 5G will enable our global hub port and International Maritime Centre to remain at the forefront of the competition.”

MPA’s incident response management and safety enforcement capabilities across the full spectrum of operations will be further strengthened through the development of the Integrated Port Operations C3 (Command, Control and Communications) system (IPOC system). The system is developed in collaboration with the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and will enhance situational awareness and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of incident responses. The IPOC system will be progressively phased in from 2023 till 2026 as MPA upgrades its systems to serve our busy port waters.

A key capability that will be developed as part of phase 2 of digitalPORT@SGTM is the Active Anchorage Management System (AAMS). The AAMS taps on various data sources to optimise allocation of limited anchorage space for vessels. It ensures that the vessel is anchored safely taking into consideration various conditions including the wind, tide, depth and proximity to hazards and is scheduled to be launched in 3Q2023.

Enhancing education on maritime safety

MPA, the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council and the National Maritime Safety at Sea Council (NMSSC) also jointly launched an educational video on safe boarding of vessels that would be screened at Marina South Pier and West Coast Pier to remind personnel boarding and disembarking vessels about good WSH practices.

A booklet containing case studies for working safely in and around water was launched at the event. The booklet features 10 case studies, including transfer at sea, transport via barges, mooring and diving operations. Each case study highlights lessons learnt and best practices to avoid workplace fatalities and injuries. Both the video and booklet are available online at www.safetyatseaweek.gov.sg/resources.

MPA Academy’s Port Management Programme

In conjunction with the International Safety@Sea Week, 23 senior officials from maritime and port authorities from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, Oceania and International Maritime Organization (IMO), will be attending the 8th edition of the Port Management Programme (PMP). The programme, delivered by industry practitioners and senior officers from MPA will cover key topics including maritime safety, port planning, digitalisation, emergency preparedness, crisis communication and sustainability. Participants will also attend the annual ferry rescue exercise (FEREX) and visit various MPA sites including the Integrated Simulation Centre and the Port Operations Control Centre.

International Safety@Sea Awards

MPA will also be presenting the International Safety@Sea Awards during the conference on 31 August 2022. A record number of 19 winners will be receiving the award, given out annually to recognise the outstanding efforts of organisations and individuals who have contributed towards ensuring safer seas. The winners were selected from nominations received across four categories this year. New criteria are introduced from this year to enable the harbour craft, pleasure craft and regional ferry community to also qualify for the awards.

Source: https://www.xindemarinenews.com/m/view.php?aid=41400

Container on working deck of offshore supply ship ASSO exploded, killing three crew and injuring one, in the evening Aug 31 at Crotone Port, Calabria, southern Itaaly, Ionian sea. ASSO was about to set sail for Malta. Land fire teams and tug were deployed, fire understood to be extinguished in some two hours.

Source: https://www.fleetmon.com/maritime-news/2022/39365/container-explosion-offshore-ship-3-crew-died-ital/

Sperry Marine has launched its newest digital solution, Sperry Marine Vessel Performance, developed in collaboration with ABB.

The service enables vessel owners to collect and analyse onboard data in real time, supporting efficient fuel usage and regulatory compliance, while optimising voyage routing.

The new solution relies on several modules of the ABB Ability OCTOPUS – Marine Advisory System, such as motion monitoring and forecasting, performance monitoring, and access to a web-based fleet portal where vessel data can be visualised and analysed onshore.

The Sperry Marine Vessel Performance solution provides a digital decarbonisation tool to help vessel owners achieve maximum fuel efficiency in compliance with upcoming regulations such as the IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII).

By continuously visualising the expected vessel motions along the planned route, the system also contributes to vessel and cargo safety, enabling the crew to select a route where maximum allowable motions will not be exceeded, resulting in most efficient and optimised route.

Sperry Marine Vessel Performance is the latest in a series of digital initiatives designed to connect bridge navigation systems with remote maintenance and voyage support services. ABB’s Vessel Performance modules are deployed and managed through the SperrySphere intelligent navigation platform, a one-stop, back-of-bridge digital platform which manages delivery of a wide variety of applications.

Sperry Marine Vessel Performance delivers the Sperry Marine vision, setting a course towards safer, greener and more efficient navigation with a roadmap of remote support and diagnostics of navigation equipment, maximising vessel availability and optimising voyage performance.

The digital platform connects the vessel with its managers using IoT in real time to transform data insights from the vessel into decisions which in turn generate business value, providing evidence in case of cargo insurance claims and demonstrating regulatory compliance.

“Our new solution can enable vessels to navigate more safely, reduce fuel costs and carbon emissions,” said James Collett, managing director, Sperry Marine. “We not only aim to improve the vessel’s performance; the SperrySphere digital platform will be the one single platform to deliver smarter and safer digitally-enabled navigation services to our customers.”

“We believe that integrating data from navigation equipment with vessel performance metrics is key to creating the decarbonisation solutions that shipping needs to lower fuel consumption and reduce emissions,” said Tomas Arhippainen, head of sales and business development, service, ABB Marine & Ports.

Data usage on commercial maritime vessels has jumped more than threefold since 2019, according to a new communications analysis by Inmarsat.

The study found that the shipping industry’s reliance on digital connectivity to enhance operating efficiency and safeguard crew welfare has resulted in data usage among Inmarsat maritime customers rising almost 70 per cent in the 12 months to mid-2022.

Analysis of data usage by vessel operators shows year-on-year demand for data was highest among container shipping companies, more than doubling (108 per cent) in June 2022 compared to June 2021, while use of connectivity increased by 70 per cent among oil tanker operators and by 47 per cent on bulk carriers over the same period.

Ben Palmer, president of Inmarsat Maritime, said: “Maritime data usage is a leading indicator of economic activity and international trade in the shipping industry, which carries 90 per cent of all global trade. More and more shipping companies are upgrading their satellite communications services and adopting new technologies for applications including route-planning, ship-to-shore broadband data transfers and to maximise fuel efficiency. They are also ensuring that their crews remain connected with family and friends while at sea, the mandatory requirement now recognised by the Maritime Labour Convention. Our study shows data usage is on the rise among all commercial vessel types.

“The success we’re seeing in our order book is due to our understanding of the commercial maritime industry and the needs of ship owners and operators. This appreciation led directly to the development of our unique service proposition for shipping companies, which combines two wholly-owned and operated global networks in our market leading Fleet Xpress service. Our strategy is to continue to innovate at pace, supporting the rapid digitalisation the industry is experiencing, which in turn is being driven by industry-wide targets for decarbonisation and the imperative of ensuring crew welfare.”

Inmarsat’s maritime data usage study comes amid a record order book for the company’s Fleet Xpress satellite communications systems. The Fleet Xpress installed base rose by 17 per cent in the second quarter of 2022 compared to Q2 2021, to almost 13,000 ships, with an order book of over 1,000 vessels.

Earlier this year, Inmarsat completed technical proof of concept tests for the terrestrial 5G mesh component of its new ORCHESTRA network. The tests took place in Singapore, one of the world’s busiest container ports. ORCHESTRA provides innovative spectrum-management and connectivity technology to deliver additional data capacity at key shipping hot spots via a unique, shore-based terrestrial networks. The 5G mesh network has the potential to integrate seamlessly with Inmarsat’s geostationary satellite constellations and a highly targeted low earth orbit (LEO) fleet to deliver the lowest average latency and fastest average speeds with unique resilience of any planned global service.

“As data demand continues to grow in the shipping industry, our ORCHESTRA testing in Singapore has shown in real-world cases how to enhance ship-to-shore and ship-to-ship connectivity, including distances, range, throughput and link availability,” continued Palmer. “We are innovating with this technology because connectivity demand in key ports and shipping lanes is only going to increase further and lead to growing congestion.”

The figures on data usage and maritime orders coincide with continued planning by Inmarsat for its combination with Viasat of the US, which also serves a range of customers in the maritime sector. On completion of the transaction, the enlarged company will drive greater customer choice in B2B satellite communications serving maritime customers, as well as aviation, government and enterprise users, by providing a strong multi-layered, global architecture, and uniquely in the space sector, the ability to bring together multi-orbital satellite and terrestrial 4G and 5G assets.

Source: https://www.thedigitalship.com/news/maritime-satellite-communications/item/8022-inmarsat-study-reveals-surge-in-maritime-data-usage

APM Terminals’ Yucatán terminal in Puerto Progreso, Mexico, has deployed a new LTE private wireless network system to provide high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity across the facility and improve network predictability in piers and yards.

The new wireless network, powered AT&T Mexico and leveraging the Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) platform, will use 4.9G LTE to connect hundreds of workers, sensors, equipment, and vehicles across an area of 11.5 hectares.

The connectivity platform will help to power a virtualised Terminal Operation System and provide the infrastructure to enable future technologies such as remote and autonomous crane operations within the piers and yards.

APM Terminals Yucatán is the only container terminal in Puerto Progreso, a deep-water port and a key logistics location for the Yucatán peninsula and south-eastern Mexico, which is home to almost 13 million people.

“We are working with AT&T Mexico and Nokia because of their expertise and unique knowledge in the Mexican telecom market,” said Nathalie Rush, Managing Director of APM Terminals Yucatan.

“The signal strength has really exceeded our expectations so far. We can cover the entire port with the solution, reaching a radius of about 6 kilometres. This platform is already considered a reference for the rest of the terminals in the group.”

Source: https://smartmaritimenetwork.com/2022/08/31/apm-terminals-yucatan-deploys-private-lte-connectivity-network/

Fire erupted on board of container ship SHAMIM on Aug 31, she’s docked at Haydarpasa, Istanbul, since late 2021, understood under repairs. Firefighting teams and tug responded, fire in the aft section of the ship was extinguished. No other details available presently.

Source: https://www.fleetmon.com/maritime-news/2022/39373/iranian-container-ship-fire-istanbul/

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sogavare has announced a temporary moratorium on visits by foreign naval vessels after turning away a U.S Coast Guard Cutter last week.

Speaking at a ceremony welcoming hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) to Honiara, Sogavare said that bureaucratic issues were behind the denial of diplomatic clearance to USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC-1140).

“Unfortunately, by the time the approval was communicated on the evening of 20th August 2022, the Ship’s captain had decided to leave our waters.” Sogavare said in statement.

The port call was routine, said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby during a press conference Tuesday. Oliver Henry planned to stop at Solomon Island to refuel and resupply, but after the U.S. did not receive diplomatic clearance in time, the ship diverted to Papua New Guinea.

“We’re disappointed in this decision,” Kirby said during the briefing. “While the lack of diplomatic clearance for the Oliver Henry was regrettable, however, the United States is pleased that the U.S. Navy ship Mercy – it’s a hospital ship – received diplomatic clearance and was able to take port in Solomon Islands on the 29th.”

While Solomon Islands took time to review its diplomatic clearance process, foreign partners had been asked to postpone upcoming naval visits until further notice, he said.

“To this end we have requested our partners to give us time to review and put in place our new processes before sending further requests for military vessels to enter the country,” Sogavare said. “Once the new mechanism is in place, we will inform you all. We anticipate the new process to be smoother and timelier.”

In a Tuesday statement, Solomon Islands government said that the new rules would apply to all visiting naval vessels.

“The government has asked all partner countries with plans to conduct naval visits or patrols to put them on hold until a revised national mechanism is in place,” according to a government statement “These will universally apply to all visiting naval vessels.”

U.S. hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) has been exempted from the moratorium and is expected to remain in Solomon Islands for several weeks as part of Pacific Partnership 2022.

Source: https://news.usni.org/2022/08/30/solomon-islands-blocks-all-naval-port-visits-after-u-s-coast-guard-cutter-denied-entry

Through a collaboration with the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), KVH now offers customised Greek-focused content to provide connections to home and to enhance the wellbeing of these seafarers.

Content to seafarers is delivered through KVH Link, an innovative service providing an entertaining experience for crew on laptops, personal devices, and TVs on board their vessels. News, movies, music, radio, and more are offered in an array of languages, and selections are refreshed often to offer the most engaging crew content.

Programming through KVH’s new collaboration with ERT includes both video and audio content available to seafarers directly on vessels enjoying KVH Link. Video content includes a one-hour News Bulletin broadcast daily, keeping Greek seafarers up to date with what is happening in Greece and around the world. In addition, ERT provides programming from their “Voice of Greece” radio station with shows including news and current events, culture, music, sports, and features of prominent figures living in Greece and abroad.

“Through this cooperation with KVH, we are now able to provide the news to our audience at sea all around the world,” said Kostas Machairas, ERT’s department of Greeks abroad director. “We are especially happy to provide our radio show “Fair Winds and Following Seas” covering topics like life at sea, stories and testimonies, and live connections with Greek ships. Shipping is so ingrained into the country’s DNA that it is difficult to find a family that doesn’t have members either currently at sea or having worked on a ship in some capacity at one point in their lives.”

“Organisations within the maritime industry worldwide are recognising the importance of crew wellbeing, connections with home, and the ability to stay abreast of current events back on land,” commented Mark Woodhead, KVH’s EVP of sales and marketing. “KVH is proud to partner with ERT to bring this important benefit to Greek seafarers on vessels enjoying our KVH Link service. Greece has one of the longest and richest maritime histories of any nation, and Greek seafarers are a vital component of commercial crews around the world. We’re grateful for the opportunity to meet their needs.”

KVH delivers its KVH Link service with content for seafarers through its TracPhone VSAT systems and TracNet hybrid terminals, providing fast connections, fully integrated belowdecks equipment, support for IoT applications, and built-in, secure network and data management.

Source: https://www.thedigitalship.com/news/maritime-satellite-communications/item/8017-kvh-partners-with-the-hellenic-broadcasting-corporation-to-serve-greek-seafarers

Newer Posts

Older Posts

Bulker Breaking Up and Leaking Oil After Collision off Gibraltar

Aframax tanker ran aground, refloated, Suez Canal

International Safety@Sea Week: Enhancing Maritime Safety Through Collaboration, Connectivity and Technology

Container explosion on offshore ship, 3 crew died, Italy

Sperry Marine launches digital vessel performance solution

Inmarsat study reveals surge in maritime data usage

APM Terminals Yucatán deploys private LTE connectivity network

Iranian container ship fire, Istanbul

Solomon Islands Blocks All Naval Port Visits After U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Denied Entry

KVH partners with the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation to serve Greek seafarers

New Phishing Campaign Targeting Shipping Companies Raises Alarm

IMO Maritime Safety Committee Opens 110th Session – Safety, Technology & Seafarer Protection in Focus

IMO’s ECDIS Cybersecurity Mandate: June 2025 Compliance Status & Enforcement

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