Satellite images on Sep 17 have confirmed that the fire on the 'Sounion' was still on at the ship's new location, 81 kilometres off the coast of Eritrea in the Red Sea, following a delicate towing operation over the weekend. Sources suggested that Saudi Arabia will now provide funding for some of the next stages of the salvage operation, which will begin by trying to douse the vessel before starting a ship-to-ship transfer operation to remove the 1.1 million barrels of Iraqi heavy crude on board. Dousing the blaze and assessing the vessel’s condition were preconditions for the decision for an STS. The salvage teams will also have to patch up damage caused by the explosive charges the Houthis had placed aboard. Reports with photo: https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/satellite-images-show-the-difficult-mission-to-save-a-stricken-oil-tanker-in-the-red-sea/amp_articleshow/113465230.cms https://sea-man.org/news/mt-sounion-fire.html
News
SUVARNA SWARAJYA
The explosion on the 'Suvarna Swarajya' on Sep 7 in Bangladesh exposed the lack of adequate international and national regulations, oversight, and labour rights protection in the shipbreaking industry, said the Human Rights Watch and the NGO Shipbreaking Platform on Sep 18. The accident at the SN Corporation’s shipbreaking yards left six workers dead and four critically injured. The tanker was owned by the Shipping Corporation of India, then sold in March 2023 to Last Voyage DMCC and then in May to the SN Corporation for dismantling, despite the company’s poor health and safety record, with at least 14 deaths and 22 injuries since 2010 and before the sale. The explosion occurred in the Unit-2 yard of SN Corporation, a few months after Nippon Kaiji Kyokai certified the yard under the requirements of the International Maritime Organisation’s Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships. However, the HRW, the NGO Shipbreaking Platform and other rights and environmental organisations have raised concerns that the Convention provides for weak environmental and safety standards. Following the explosion, the Bangladesh authorities indefinitely shut down the yard, halted all work on the 'Suvarna Swarajya,'and opened an official investigation into the accident. Report with photo: https://www.newagebd.net/post/human-rights/245535/ship-explosion-exposes-regulatory-failures-in-bangladesh-hrw
Copenhagen
A work accident with deadly outcome occurred at the container terminal in Copenhagen's North Port on Oct 4, 2019. A worker who was seriously injured when two straddle carriers collided at the terminal died of his injuries on Oct 6, 2019. The details of the accident were not disclosed. Authorities were investigating the accident. Since the accident, employees have been offered various types of emergency assistance.
Port Hedland
With the successful start an important milestone has been reached in the execution of the contract to operate the tugboat fleet for Fortescue Metals Group (Fortescue) in Port Hedland, the world’s largest bulk export port on Australia´s west coast. The fleet consists of eight new ART 85-32W and one RT80-32 Rotortugs®. Six of them are Fortescue owned, three are owned by KOTUG, which are chartered directly to Fortescue. KOTUG manages the entire contract.
SALVAMAR ADHARA
On Sep 18 a cayuco has been located about 12 nautical miles south of La Restinga (El Hierro). The 'Salvamar Adhara' was mobilized to assist and accompaned it to the port of La Restinga. It was estimated that wree are approximately 70 people on board of the boat.
DALI
The US Justice Department filed a lawsuit on Sep 18, seeking more than $100 million from the Singapore owner and operator of the 'Dali'. The civil suit against Grace Ocean Private and Synergy Marine Private was filed in the US District Court for the District of Maryland. With this civil claim, the Justice Department tries to ensure that the costs of clearing the channel and reopening the Port of Baltimore are borne by the companies that caused the accident. Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer said the owner and operator of the Dali were well aware of vibration issues on the vessel that could cause a power outage. They configured the ship's electrical and mechanical systems in a way that prevented those systems from being able to quickly restore propulsion and steering after a power outage. The Justice Department suit came after th Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine filed a legal action of their own earlier this year seeking to limit their liability to $44 million. The Justice Department lawsuit does not seek damages for the eventual costs of rebuilding the bridge, which is expected to be the subject of a separate claim from the state of Maryland.
Durban
Hapag-Lloyd continues to develop its position in Africa and launches the new MIAX (Middle East-India-Africa Express) service – which will offer direct connections and fast transit times between South and West Africa, the Persian Gulf, India, Colombo (Sri Lanka) and La Réunion. Hapag-Lloyd has entered the African market about twelve years ago and has since then seen steady and significant growth in transported volumes to and from Africa."With the new MIAX service our customers will now benefit from an even wider range of fast and flexible direct connections," says Dheeraj Bhatia, Senior Managing Director of Hapag-Lloyd's Region Middle East.The MIAX service will be connected to the Global Mainline Network via the key ports of Jebel Ali (Dubai) and Colombo. Hapag-Lloyd will jointly operate the MIAX service with it's THE Alliance partner Ocean Network Express. A total of nine ships with a capacity of 2,800 TEU each, including five provided by Hapag-Lloyd, will be deployed for the new service.
Murmansk
Gas infrastructure along Russia’s Northern Sea Route is set to get a Japanese upgrade with news Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) have signed a cooperation agreement with Novatek to develop LNG transhipment projects in Kamchatka and Murmansk. The projects will construct floating storage units (FSUs) to tranship LNG cargoes from ice-breaking LNG ships to conventional LNG ships. The FSUs will be located in Kamchatka and in Murmansk and will be used for the transhipment of LNG cargoes produced by Novatek’s Yamal LNG Project and Arctic LNG 2 Project, two of the largest gas developments in the world.
GUARDAMAR C.ARENAL
On Sep 18 a cayuco was spotted five nautical miles from Arguineguín. The 'Guardamar Concepción Arenal' was mobilized by the CCS Las Palmas of Salvamento Marítimo. The crew has rescued the 76 people aboard the boat and transported them to port in the night hours.
SHINGLE
On the afternoon of Sep 18 the ' Shingle' was scuttled off County Mayo to create an artificial reef. A flotilla of smaller boats with spectators circled and a drone fed live footage off Killala Bay. Authorities hope the wreck, from its new home on the seabed, will enhance the ecosystem and boost tourism by enticing divers to Ireland’s west coast. The 'Shingle' was towed from New Ross and arrived at Killala Bay on Sep 17. About a dozen dinghies and other small boats accompanied the vessel on its last voyage. Soon after 3 p.m., about two kilometers from shore, its valves were opened.. After an hour the ship was visibly lower in the water and listed to its starboard side. Just before 5 p.m. the ship sank in a few seconds and came to rest on the seabed 29 metres deep on even keel. Reports with photo and video: https://www.rte.ie/news/connacht/2024/0918/1470635-mv-shingle-mayo/ https://www.westernpeople.ie/news/watch-former-smuggling-ship-sinks-into-killala-bay_arid-32102.html https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2024/09/18/mv-shingle-sinking-ship-with-infamous-past-to-become-exploration-magnet-for-scuba-divers/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/18/former-smugglers-ship-sunk-off-ireland-to-form-artificial-reef https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHIfhT34gUM
Los Angeles - Long Beach_mini
The Port of Los Angeles has announced a development opportunity for an Outer Harbor Cruise Terminal at Berths 46 and 50, with plans to release a Request for Proposal (RFP) later this fall. The proposal is intended for cruise lines, terminal operators, and real estate developers interested in creating a new state-of-the-art cruise terminal in a prime location for expansion of west coast cruise travel at America’s busiest port. Located on the south end of an extensive LA Waterfront development, the proposed 13-acre site offers unique panoramic views of the coastline and Catalina Island. The area is currently used as a concert venue, special event site, and temporary berth location for cruise ships.
Dover
The Chinese Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) sees its order intake for ro-pax ferries further increase following a long-awaited double order from P&O Ferries for a next-generation of Dover-Calais shuttle ferries.