Another superyacht belonging to a sanctioned Russian oligarch has put into port in the UAE, a jurisdiction widely perceived as a safe haven for Russian assets.

The aerodynamic superyacht Madame Gu, the vessel of Russian billionaire and politician Andrei Skoch, can now be found at Port Rashid, Dubai. The vessel went dark on AIS in March, a few weeks after the invasion of Ukraine, but she has been spotted at the pier next to the decommissioned cruise ship Queen Elizabeth II at Mina Rashid.

Skoch has been listed on the U.S. Treasury’s specially designated persons list since 2018. The Treasury claims that in addition to his position in Russia’s parliament, Skoch “has longstanding ties to Russian organized criminal groups, including time spent leading one such enterprise.” Skoch denies these charges, and he has said that he has no idea why he has been named to the list. “They say that it is connected with Ukraine, but I don’t even know, because I haven’t been to Crimea, and I don’t have any ties with Ukraine,” Skoch told Gazeta.ru in 2018.

The EU also sanctioned Skoch this year, citing his support for recognition for the breakaway provinces of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic, two Russian-controlled areas in occupied eastern Ukraine.

The Madame Gu is in good company in the UAE. The well-known M/Y A, a sleek modern yacht belonging to billionaire industrialist Andrey Melnichenko, has been at the port of Ras al-Khaimah since mid-March.

The UAE is (so far) out of reach of American and European sanctions enforcement. The nation has longstanding ties to Russia, and its government has insisted on neutrality on the question of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. It is one of the three dozen nations that abstained from voting on a UN resolution to condemn it. However, its perceived proximity to Russian wealth and banking have drawn the scrutiny of Western governments, and the UAE is under pressure to align its policies with American and European sanctions.

The UAE’s political ties with the United States are also strong: it is a leading buyer of U.S. weapons exports and it is the home of Al Dhafra Air Base, the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force’s operations in the Middle East.

Source: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/sanctioned-russian-billionaire-s-yacht-pulls-into-port-in-mina-rashid

Canadian traffic solutions company, SMATS, today announced the general availability of its Port Traffic Management Solution to equip port authorities and operators around the world to better manage drayage truck backlogs at terminal gates.

The technology is part of the solutions for alleviating cargo backlogs, which have rippled through the supply chain, causing supply shortages and adverse economic impacts. Long truck queues at terminal gates also contribute significantly to air and noise pollutions in and around ports, negating the industry’s progress towards its environmental commitments.

SMATS’ Port Traffic Management Solution includes next-generation IoT sensors to monitor truck movements, and a powerful data analytics and visualisation platform (iNode^TM), whose algorithms enable the accurate prediction of wait times leading to and at the terminal gates in real-time.

This vital information allows the terminal operators to actively optimise their service rates, and to timely communicate with the drayage truck drivers who can then plan their trips most efficiently.

“Our Port Traffic Management Solution can be used as a standalone solution, or as an addition to the Terminal Operating Systems (TOS) which many large ports have implemented,” said Amir Ghods, CEO of SMATS.

“What sets us apart is the accuracy in data collection, filtering, and prediction algorithms – all in real-time – which allows terminal operators to react quickly to diminish truck queues as they happen.”

SMATS’ Port Solution has proven to deliver on its intended impact. In Los Angeles, Fenix Marine Services manages the Ports of Los Angeles’ Pier 300, where SMATS’ solution was implemented to monitor truck queues outside the terminals to facilitate better decision-making with powerful predictive data.

“SMATS’ truck traffic wait-time monitoring allowed us to better measure and manage our traffic at the terminal gates,” said John Rosen, CTO at Fenix Marine Services.

“Real-time data has provided visibility where we had none and is helping us to better service the trucks.”

In Canada’s Port of Trois-Rivières, SMATS’ TRAFFICXHUB™ sensors were installed and collected traffic data with 92 per cent accuracy using Bluetooth beacons distributed to truckers. For the first time, the port authorities were empowered with actionable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that lead to data-informed decision-making and improved traffic flow.

Thanks to the support of Transport Canada, at Port of Trois-Rivières, Quebec, SMATS extends the capabilities of the solution to offer multiple analytics dashboards, including a smartphone application for truck drivers to communicate with terminals and access their expected turn-times based on their location and estimated time of arrival at the gate.

“We offer customisation options to supplement the capabilities of a variety of Terminal Operating Systems (TOS) and traffic networks,” said Amir Ghods.

“All with the goal to effectively help reduce the congestion issues that are negatively impacting the ports’ revenue objectives and the movement of global supply chain.”

For more information on incorporating SMATS’ Port Traffic Management Solution into your traffic management strategy, visit https://bit.ly/3n5ntkt.

Source: https://www.porttechnology.org/news/smats-launches-port-traffic-management-solution-for-terminal-traffic-monitoring-and-vita-predictive-data-on-truck-turn-times/

In order to develop capabilities and solutions for maritime decarbonization, digitalization, and innovation, CMA CGM Group and the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) have signed a MoU.

In order to cooperatively develop capabilities and solutions in the areas of maritime decarbonization, digitalization, and innovation, CMA CGM Group and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The two sides want to develop a workforce that has the education and expertise needed in the future. The two parties will investigate the use of zero and low-carbon marine fuels, such as e-methanol, e-methane, and biofuels for commercial shipping, to hasten maritime decarbonization.

Another goal of this partnership is the research into technologies such as carbon capture solutions.

“Decarbonisation, digitalisation and innovation are strategic priorities for CMA CGM and the entire shipping industry,” noted Rodolphe Saadé, chairman and chief executive officer of the CMA CGM Group.

“Given Singapore’s key position in our global network, I am very pleased to sign this partnership with the Maritime and Port Authority. It will allow us to address the challenges ahead and strengthen our existing strong ties with Singapore, its industries, and its digital ecosystem, while reflecting our attachment to this country,” he added.

Three of the LNG vessels, ordered by the French company, that are also e-methane ready, will sail under the Singaporean flag. CMA CGM currently has an e-methane-ready fleet of 29 vessels in service and will have a total of 77 by 2026.

The MOU will explore various collaborative opportunities for greater digitalisation, such as maritime cyber security and just-in-time shipping, achieved through data exchanges for port and cargo documentation and reporting.

At the same time, the two parties will work together on innovations such as shipboard automation for more safety, efficiency, and smarter solutions onboard vessels.

They will also explore creating and investing in Singapore-based incubators and accelerators to develop Singapore-based marine technology start-ups. “We are happy to work with a like-minded partner like CMA CGM who shares our bold ambitions to make international shipping more sustainable and resilient, and who which also believes in taking pragmatic and concrete steps towards these aspirations,” stated Quah Ley Hoon, chief executive of Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

Source: https://www.maritimegateway.com/cma-cgm-in-collaboration-with-mpa-singapore/

The Long Beach City Council has unanimously passed a Ship It Zero Resolution 6-0, calling on San Pedro Bay maritime importers to commit to 100 per cent zero-emissions shipping by 2030.

This resolution unites the nation’s largest ports, Los Angeles and Long Beach, in making the commitment of zero-emissions ocean shipping by 2030, as well as calling on the Port of Long Beach to establish greener international ocean shipping corridors.

The Port of Long Beach recently signed on to the Shanghai-Los Angeles Green Shipping Corridor, to enable a zero-emissions trans-Pacific trade route. The partnership intends to address the current climate change crisis and deliver urgent solutions to achieve net-zero shared goals by 2030.

“As a hub for international trade, Long Beach and its residents face significant impacts from cargo ship pollutants,” said Al Austin II, Long Beach City Council Member, District 8.

“As cleaner, emission-friendly technology becomes more available, it is necessary for the city and those who utilise our port to take every feasible step to curb airborne emissions wherever possible.”

The resolution also comprises support for legislation or administrative action to decarbonise the maritime shipping industry and create zero-emission shipping corridors along the Californian coast, the US West Coast, and across the trans-Pacific trade route.

As recently reported by Ship It Zero, the international ocean shipping industry’s pollution is on the rise and is expected to comprise 17 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.

The Los Angeles County receives 40 per cent of all containerised cargo imports to the US coming through the San Pedro Bay port complex, making the surrounding communities particularly vulnerable to deadly pollutants. This highlights the need for more zero-emissions shipping resolutions.

“Pandemic-era supply chain issues have left over 100 ocean cargo ships idling off the coast of the Port of Long Beach, spewing toxic pollution into Black, Brown, poor, and working-class Californians’ air for far too long,” said Dawny’all Heydari, Ship It Zero Campaign Lead, Pacific Environment.

“Thank you to the Long Beach City Council for prioritising the health and wellness of residents of Long Beach by drawing a line in the sand for big retailers like Target, Walmart, IKEA, and Amazon to clean up their dirty shipping practices. No longer shall West Long Beach be treated as the collateral damage of the American economy.”

Green corridor initiatives to fast-track decarbonisation across the maritime industry are on the rise, as the Port of Montreal recently signed a threefold alliance to bolster Canada’s main trade corridor.

All eight seafarers have been saved from a general cargo vessel that capsized and sank off Vietnam.

Two passengers were also rescued from the 2,000-dwt Nam Thinh 126 (built 2009) on 22 June.

The ship got into difficulty after anchoring in heavy seas off Hai Phong.

The Vietnam Maritime Search & Rescue Coordination Center said it was alerted by the ship at the Hon Dau anchorage.

The vessel began to list and the master feared it would sink, so he ordered everyone into life rafts.

The Nam Thinh 126 sank shortly afterwards.

The vessel, owned by Tan Tai Shipping Trading Co of Vietnam, was carrying 1,800 tonnes of stones and bales from Quy Nhon to Cam.

The two passengers on the ship worked for Vietnam Trade Co, authorities reported.

Crew close fuel valves before abandoning ship

Four Hai Phong Port Authority ships headed to the scene, picking up the seafarers and passengers from the rafts.

The crew said the vessel had 150 tonnes of fuel oil and three tonnes of diesel on board. Fuel valves were closed before the seafarers left the ship.

No injuries or pollution have been reported.

The vessel was classed by the Vietnam Register. The Equasis database lists no port state control inspections.

The Nam Thinh 126 is the only vessel listed in the fleet of Tan Tai.