MARITIME NEWS Archives - Page 45 of 211

Port of Salalah and FECO of Salalah – Oman, signed an agreement recently to pave the way for Salalah to become one of the leading bunkering hubs in the region.

FECO has already commenced its operations in Salalah effective June 2022. Having stationed the M/T “Sea Dweller” at Salalah, FECO is already supplying bunkers by ship-to-ship transfer, ex pipeline and by road tankers. With the implementation of IMO regulations, the demand for low sulphur fuel has increased, however ship owners are challenged by its supply in the region, FECO intends to offer fuel of various types and grades while the ship is visiting the port as well as at the anchorage apart from using the Salalah capacity for storage and bunker trading.

The principals of FECO have vast experience in physical bunkering operations which span over 22 years. Furthermore, FECO and its principals have been providing bunkering vessels and running bunkering terminals for Oil Majors (including the Salalah bunkering facility) for over 20 years. FECO is a customer-oriented company providing the best quality fuels in the world at most competitive prices resulting from a low cost and highly efficient operation.

Source: Port of Salalah

Salalah, geographically located in the most significant spot in the busiest East West shipping route is ambitious of offering bunkering as a value-added service not only for the ships visiting the Port but also for the ships plying in this route. With this objective in mind Port of Salalah invited international tenders in November 2021, for its tank farm which has a storage capacity of 100000 MT of liquid fuel, through a competitive bidding process and subsequent evaluation culminated in finalising the deal in April 2022.

“We are excited at this partnership with Port of Salalah and we hope to expand our presence in the region and are confident of being able to offer bunkering at very competitive pricing to a wide range of customers visiting the Port of Salalah and off Salalah” says Ioannis Koilakos, Partner and Director of FECO.
Source: Port of Salalah

UTM/USSP specialist, Airwayz Drones, has today announced it successfully executed a proof of concept demonstration at Ashdod Port as a part of 500 Global and PoA Innovation accelerator programme that aims to integrate innovative technologies and sustainable applications into the largest cargo port of Israel. The demonstration showcased Airwayz UTM’s ability to manage multiple fleets of drones, reacting safely and efficiently to three potential scenarios that a bustling port could face.

In the first scenario, multiple autonomous drones connected by Airwayz UTM/USSP ran regular patrols across Ashdod Port whilst intelligent software identified the images in real-time, allowing the port’s operator teams to monitor the site with faster response capabilities as well as complete situational awareness. The port’s security was tested further in the second scenario by autonomously sending two drones to a point of interest. This provided operators with a clear view of the area and allowed a more accurate assessment of the situation.

During the third test, a rogue drone was brought into the scenario. Using Airwayz UTM/USSP combined with ground sensor technology, the system quickly and easily detected the unregistered drone and autonomously dispatched a system drone to investigate further. Airwayz UTM/USSP efficiently integrates multiple systems and uses its AI-based software to react quickly and avoid all collisions, including even unregistered drones, providing a critical security solution for ports and any other hubs requiring similar security.

Following the completion of the demonstration, Eyal Zor, CEO and Co-Founder of Airwayz, said,”In collaboration with Ashdod Port and Global 500, today we showcased the advanced ability of Airwayz’ game-changing UTM system to manage safe and efficient operations in seaports and other critical infrastructures. Airwayz’s unique UTM service is at the forefront of drone technology, allowing numerous industries to increase productivity and efficiency through unmanned automation. We believe our technology will revolutionise how businesses operate in the near future. We’re honoured to have been selected as the best accelerator for the Blue Ocean for Startups accelerator programme with 500 Global.”

The Port of Ashdod underwent a 12-week acceleration programme – set up and managed by the venture capital firm 500 Global – to test and adopt new technologies that enhance productivity and efficiency across various applications with the goal of driving sustainable innovation within blue tech. Throughout the programme, Airwayz’ demonstrated its sophisticated UTM/USSP capabilities, such as tactical and strategic deconfliction, and advanced mission planning, allowing drones to be operated in any ecosystem safely and efficiently.
Source: Airwayz

Claims that maritime traffic in the Suez Canal has fallen in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have been rejected by the Egyptian government, which says the key trading link is setting new records.

The government’s media center said that it had contacted the Suez Canal Authority, which described the claims on social media as rumors.
Navigation movement in the canal during February 2022 reached a new high in terms of ship transit rates and net tonnages, the authority said.

“A total of 1,713 ships crossed from both directions, with a net tonnage of 100.1 million tons, compared with the transit of 1,532 ships during February last year, with a total net tonnage of 97.6 million tons,” the authority said.

It said that flexible marketing and pricing policies have encouraged new shipping lines to use the canal.

According to the government media center, the Suez Canal achieved record profits in 2021, with revenue totalling $6.3 billion, despite the effects of the pandemic on the global economy.

Performance rates in February this year are the highest for the month in the history of the canal, with revenue rising by 15.1 percent to $545.5 million, not including navigation services. This compares with $474.1 million for the same month last year.

Transit rates of various types of ships also rose compared with the same month last year, with bulk vessel numbers increasing by 29 percent, container ships by 11.8 percent and car carriers by 22.2 percent.
Source: Arab News

Jul 31, 2022 (Bloomberg) –Lebanon has seized a ship loaded with barley and wheat flour while it determines whether the cargo may have been stolen from Ukraine, said Public Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat.

The Ukrainian embassy in Beirut said the vessel was loaded at Feodosia in the Russian-occupied peninsula of Crimea, and that the commodities originated from Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv and Kherson in southeastern Ukraine.

The embassy accused Russia of stealing more than 500,000 tons during its occupation of the three regions. While Russia denies stealing grain, it has publicly touted the resumption of grain shipments from occupied ports.

Grain shipments from Crimea have surged since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, which analysts say indicates Ukrainian grain is being exported. Exports from Crimea are sanctioned by the European Union and the US.

The cargo ship Laodicea arrived at Tripoli in northern Lebanon on July 27, according to ship-tracking data monitored by Bloomberg. It will be held while Lebanon carries out an investigation into the cargo’s origin, Oueidat told Bloomberg.

The ship’s registered owner is Syria Mar Shipping Ltd., according to European database Equasis. Syria Mar Shipping Ltd. wasn’t immediately available to comment. Both the company and the ship were sanctioned by the US in 2015 for their association with the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad.

Source: https://gcaptain.com/lebanon-seizes-ship-accused-of-carrying-stolen-ukrainian-grain/

(OTTAWA, Ontario) — U.S. grain and coke exports boosted overall shipping volumes through the St. Lawrence Seaway in June.

Total cargo tonnage shipments (from March 22 to June 30) via the St. Lawrence Seaway totaled 11.9 million metric tons, down 8.3 percent compared to 2021 but gaining ground in comparison to April, when they were down 18 percent at the start of the season. Other systemwide highlights include an increase in project cargo such as wind energy components and a 55 percent increase in coke shipments, including exports to Europe for cement production.

U.S. grain shipments via the Great Lakes-Seaway system totaled 414,000 metric tons from March 22 to June 30, up 37 percent compared to the same period in 2021. Much of the increase is due to exports of corn and soybeans.

The bulk carrier Labrador takes on a load of potash at the MobilEx Terminal in the Port of Thunder Bay, Ontario, in June. Michael Hull photo

The rise in shipments, which are predominantly heading to Europe and North Africa, are in part due to shifting global grain trading patterns as the conflict between Russia and the Ukraine — both major grain exporters — continues.

“International trade has been a major driver of Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway shipping this season, with corn, soybeans, coke and containerized goods heading out and steel and wind energy components being shipped in,” said Bruce Burrows, president and CEO of the Chamber of Marine Commerce. “American businesses recognize that it is more important than ever to have this reliable, cost-efficient trade and transportation route, particularly in these high-inflation, uncertain times.”

June was a strong month for the Port of Toledo as shipments for the year surpassed 4.5 million short tons, up 22 percent over the same period in 2021. “We enjoyed increases in every cargo category other than liquid bulk,” said Joseph Cappel, vice president of business development for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. “Our grain tonnage is more than double what it was at the same time last year and iron ore and coal are also up significantly. With all three of our major staple commodities ahead of last year, we should expect a strong second half of our shipping season.”

The port also shipped petcoke to other U.S. ports as well as Portugal, the Netherlands and Ontario. The Port of Toledo is also in peak construction season with capital improvement projects occurring at the Toledo Shipyard, General Cargo Facility and dredge material processing center. The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority is also working with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources on several water quality improvement projects involving the creation of wetlands in the Maumee River and its tributaries.

At the Port of Duluth-Superior, limestone and general cargo shipments provided the June highlights. For the month, Duluth-Superior welcomed 433,143 short tons of the versatile chalky rock from Michigan, which pushed the season-to-date limestone total above 1 million short tons and 14.3 percent ahead of the five-season average. Limestone has numerous purposes, including being used as a building stone for construction and in the manufacturing of cement.

Inbound wind energy cargoes and bagged minerals delivered the general cargo boost in June, with nearly 13,000 short tons arriving at the Duluth Cargo Connect facilities. That float lifted the season-to-date general cargo tonnage total past 27,280 short tons, which exceeds the five-season average pace through June 30 by a robust 33 percent.

– Chamber of Marine Commerce

According to Alphaliner, the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) announced a new, streamlined procedure for shippers who wish to file complaints against shipping lines for unfair charges.

This announcement is received as a result of the numerous complaints that shippers or exporters had presented in the United States due to the collections in detention and delays of the containers of the maritime lines that in past news involved Hapag-Lloyd. The ruling, favorable to the shipper, resulted in a large fine to the shipping line for excessive charges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a notice published last week enacting the provisions of the new Shipping Reform Act, the new guidance will allow shippers to open a dispute by sending a single email to the FMC detailing the alleged violations along with supporting documents.

If enough information is received, the FMC will launch an investigation. Shipper representatives claimed that the guidance would give the FMC enforcement strength, similar to that of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). An FMC investigation could result in possible civil penalties for carriers and an order for reimbursement of the charges.

The FMC notice follows the enactment of the Shipping Reform Act on June 16, the first update to US shipping law since 1998. Shippers must show that the alleged violation took place after of June 16 and that contravenes the new Law.

Taking this announcement into account, exporters and NVOCCs will now have a little more negotiating capacity against shipping lines in the United States. However, the possible sanctions that this would entail are not yet known, but it is stipulated that they be compensation or monetary fines.

Source: Alphaliner

The Philippines-based firm is buying a majority stake in PT East Java Development from Indo Port Holding Pte Ltd. and Eastlog Holding Pte Ltd. PT East Java Development has the concession rights, with 47 years remaining, to operate a multi-purpose terminal located in Lamongan Regency, East Java, Indonesia.

ICTSI is buying a 66.7% stake in the multipurpose port for $46.5m, the company announced in a filing to Securities and Exchange Commission.

The deal was inked was on 27 July.

“The purchase will increase ICTSI’s footprint in the growing Asia Pacific region and provide further service offerings to its global and local customer,” said ICTSI.

Source: https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ports/ictsi-buys-indonesian-port-47m-deal

Using data from 2019, the study developed a methodology to identify where bunkering occurs and track resulting pollution. Focussing on Singapore—the world’s largest bunkering hub accounting for around a fifth of global marine fuel sales in 2019—the study found “residual marine fuel sales in Singapore leave a global air, water, and climate pollution footprint.”

Highlighting the difficulty of tracking and assigning emissions from international shipping, the report said that if emissions from bunkers sold in Singapore were added to its national GHG emissions, the country’s per-capita emissions would quadruple to be six times the world average.

“While Singapore’s marine fuel sales exert a global environmental footprint, much of the pollution is concentrated in seas and coastal areas neighbouring the country,” said the report.

ICCT

Emissions are at their highest around Singapore and Southeast Asia, with further hotspots in the South China Sea, Indian Ocean and across Oceania.

For Singapore and its neighbours, emissions from shipping have a tangible impact on premature deaths in coastal regions. As well as improving the health of their populations, nations could find commercial benefits from a move to less polluting fuels for shipping.

“Countries like China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia could win twice by producing and selling renewable marine fuels at their ports: first by reducing local air and water pollution and second by capturing the economic benefits of new renewable marine fuel markets,” said the report.

The incentive to develop bunkering infrastructure is further improved by the nature of future fuels for the maritime industry; the power density of residual fuels means some container ships can sail for three months before bunkering, but the lower power density of future fuel contenders like LNG, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen may mean ships need to bunker more frequently and in more locations.

“As the preeminent seller of bunker fuel globally, Singapore will need to transition to low-carbon bunkering if it wants to remain an important bunkering port… Several steps should be considered. Singapore could halt further investment in fossil fuel bunkering infrastructure, for example by no longer registering new fossil fuel bunker barges.” said the study.

The report also suggested that Singapore advance green shipping corridors. “Relevant corridors may be along northward along coastal China and then extending to East Asia; westward to India, the Middle East, and then Europe; and throughout the ASEAN region to Australia (IAP, 2021). International agreements like the 2021 Clydebank Declaration could help structure that involvement.”

Source: https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/bunkering/singapore-bunkering-leaves-global-air-water-and-climate-pollution-footprint

MARPOL at 50 – Our commitment goes on’ has been selected as the upcoming theme for the International Maritime Organization’s 2023 World Maritime Theme, which will culminate in a World Maritime Day celebration on 28 September next year.

The theme reflects the organization’s long history of protecting the environment from the impact of shipping via a robust regulatory framework and emphasizes its ongoing commitment to this important work.

The theme spotlights the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), which covers prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes.

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim said: “A lot has changed in shipping in the 50 years since the MARPOL Convention was adopted on 2 November 1973, and IMO’s commitment to protecting and preserving the marine environment has remained unwavering. The World Maritime Theme for 2023 will allow us to celebrate this legacy, while also underscoring our dedication to building on the existing foundations as we move towards a brighter future together.

“Our work to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions is critical, and – given the urgency of the climate crisis – we must act now to strengthen our ambitions on this matter. We must also tackle other issues including protecting biodiversity, biofouling , the transfer of invasive species, and plastic and noise pollution. Protecting the marine environment requires shared action and I look forward to what the next 50 years will bring.”

The theme, which promotes discussions on the next phase of IMO’s work to further protect the planet and the oceans, is also linked to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These include affordable and clean energy (SDG 7); industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9); climate action and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources (SDGs 13 and 14); and the importance of partnerships and implementation to achieve these goals (SDG 17).

The IMO Council, meeting for its 127th session, endorsed the theme following a proposal by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim.

History of the Convention

The Torrey Canyon oil spill in 1967, the largest oil disaster at the time, was one of the key moments that led to the development of the MARPOL Convention. The 1970s saw increased global awareness of the need to protect the marine environment from all sources of pollution, subsequently resulting in the adoption of the MARPOL Convention and the 1978 MARPOL Protocol in 1973 and 1978, respectively. The combined instrument entered into force on 2 October 1983.

MARPOL 73/78 is the most important international instrument covering prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes. In 1997, a Protocol addressing prevention of air pollution from ships was adopted and entered into force on 19 May 2005.

Evolution of MARPOL

Today, MARPOL covers pollution of the sea by oil, noxious liquid substances in bulk, harmful substances in packaged form, sewage from ships and garbage from ships, air pollution from ships, and regulation of energy efficiency. It also allows for the adoption of special areas with even stricter controls on operational discharges.

The Convention has evolved through the years. Some highlights include the requirements for oil/water separators on ships, phasing out of single hull oil tankers in 2010, the establishment of several special areas including the Antarctic area, the introduction of the mandatory IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) in all MARPOL annexes, the introduction of the IMO 2020 global sulphur limit, and the adoption of technical and operational measures to enhance the energy efficiency of ships.

The adoption of the Initial IMO Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Strategy in 2018 to decarbonize the sector as soon as possible before the end of this century has set the policy framework for the development and adoption of further measures within MARPOL to enhance energy efficiency of ships.

Source https://maritimefairtrade.org/imo-chooses-new-world-maritime-theme-to-highlight-environmental-legacy/

South Korea has 3,300 islands but with a low birth rate, many of them are deserted with few or no residents. 63 islands are expected to become uninhibited by 2066. Out of 463 inhabited islands, 66 islands have fewer than 10 people residing as of today. The government now wants to make the islands more attractive to repopulate them in a bid to relieve mounting pressure of fast-paced urbanization in major cities.

According to this year’s figure from Korea Statistics, a woman is expected to give birth to 0.81 child. The population started to decline for the first time in history last year, and it is forecasted to decline further still in the years ahead in both urban and countryside areas.

So, with the double whammy of low birth rate and low take-up rate of moving to islands, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, inaugurated three months ago, is aiming for a balanced development. President Yoon established a special committee to recommend policies to mitigate overpopulation in urban areas, especially the metropolitan area of Seoul, and to develop the islands into a viable option for people to move to.

Kim Byong-joon, who previously served as the chief of this committee, said one of the goals was to cut down on bureaucracy and give more decision-making power to local government so that they can quickly react to ground sentiments and formulate specific policies to counter pain points.

“The incumbent government will strongly promote the decentralization of administrative power, for regional governments to make and implement development policies based on their local situations,” Kim said at the first-ever Korea Island Forum held at the Korea Press Center, Seoul, in May. “Besides decentralizing power, it’s also planning to make local governments more financially independent (from the central government),” he added.

Other plans for the rural areas included the revamp of educational systems at local universities to attract more high-tech companies and young students to relocate there, and the designation of exclusive industrial zones.

The government also will continue with the 4th Island Development Plan, first established by the Moon Jae-in administration in 2018, and scheduled to run till 2027, to create jobs, build more transport infrastructure and cultural facilities, and improve the quality of life in 370 islands.

Kim Nam-hee, who leads the policy research department at the Korea Island Development Institute, pointed out at the Forum that the government’s island development plan can be improved further. For example, there should be a central national department or agency, to be given full legal backing and power to enforce and implement the plan. He also suggested to incorporate green and sustainable development and to link the island development plan to the Balanced Regional Development Plan.

Lee Eung-gyu, president of the Korean Association of Islands, agreed that the plans should be green, sustainable and good for the environment. This will appeal to the younger generation, who is relatively more passionate and involved in protecting the climate and environment.

“South Korea’s island development policies are too focused on the islands individually without taking a holistic and macro approach by looking at the development as part of an ecosystem,” Lee said.

He added that there must also be continuity when administration changed, good governance, good collection of data to determine benchmark on which progress can be measured and a national agency to coordinate all the government’s efforts.

Source: https://maritimefairtrade.org/south-korea-promotes-island-living-to-relieve-urbanization-pressure/

Salalah set to become one of the leading bunkering hubs in the region

Airwayz Successfully Demonstrates Proof of Concept at the Port of Ashdod

Suez Canal setting new records, says Egypt in response to claims that maritime traffic is falling

Lebanon Seizes Ship Accused of Carrying Stolen Ukrainian Grain

US grain boosts Seaway volumes amid Ukraine war

FMC Introduces New Complaint Procedure For Shipping Lines

ICTSI buys into Indonesian port in $47m deal

Singapore bunkering leaves ‘global air, water, and climate pollution footprint’

IMO Chooses New World Maritime Theme To Highlight Environmental Legacy

History of the Convention

Evolution of MARPOL

South Korea Promotes Island Living To Relieve Urbanization Pressure

News

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

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

IMO Mandates Monthly Emergency Drills for Passenger Ships: Full Breakdown of New Safety Rules

Quick Menu

Company DETAILS

ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED