World’s longest green corridor planned between Singapore and Rotterdam
Efforts are underway to form the world’s longest green corridor to enable low and zero carbon shipping between the hubs of Singapore in the Far East and Rotterdam in Europe. The port authorities for each port are joining with others in the industry hoping to inspire others to follow their lead while they also seek to expand on the concept of green shipping corridors first launched at the COP26 conference last fall in Glasgow. Beyond supporting the adoption of alternative fuels, a new agreement between the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and the Port of Rotterdam Authority also aims to optimize maritime efficiency, safety, and the transparent flow of goods by supporting the use of digitalization.
Iran’s tankers become more active
Iran is overcoming trade barriers and sustaining a high level of crude oil exports by deploying more of its own sanctioned tankers, according to watchdog United Against Nuclear Iran. The nation’s petroleum industry is heavily sanctioned by the United States, but it continues to export a steady flow of about one million barrels a day into the global market; in fact, it is earning more money than it has in years thanks to rising oil prices. Its clandestine trading network relies on a small number of private shipowners who are willing to violate U.S. sanctions and evade detection in exchange for outsize financial returns.
NY/NJ port plans carrier container imbalance fee based on volumes
As ports around the world are struggling to keep up with record volumes and manage the growing number of containers in their yards, the Port of New York and New Jersey has come up with a unique approach announcing plans to launch a quarterly “container imbalance fee” for ocean carriers. The port authority is urging ocean carriers to clear long-dwell empty containers from port property as the peak cargo season approaches, but instead of measuring progress by dwell time, the port will base the fee on the ratio of outgoing to incoming containers moved by each carrier. “The Port of New York and New Jersey is facing record import volumes, leading to empty containers accumulating in and around the port complex that are now affecting the regional supply chain that is already under stress from various sources across the country.
Heddle shipyards awarded Canadian coast guard repair work
The Canadian Coast Guard has awarded Heddle Shipyards a $36.14 million vessel life extension contract for the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) George R. Pearkes. The vessel will be dry-docked and enter an extended maintenance period designed to increase its operational life. The Hamilton, Ont. yard secured the contract following an open and competitive bid process. The project was awarded by Public Services and Procurement Canada on behalf of the Canadian Coast Guard.
Life extension work includes steel hull reinforcement; hull, superstructure, deck and mast recoating; galley modernization; replacement of the bow thruster, cycloconverter, propulsion generator and the internal communication system; tail shaft and rudder inspections; and domestic and auxiliary system upgrades. Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, said, “A strong, well-equipped, Canadian Coast Guard fleet is essential to protect Canadians on the water, and the marine environment.
US federal maritime commission creates new enforcement structure
The United States’ Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) on Friday announced it creating a new bureau to handle its enforcement and compliance activities. The agency, which is responsible for the regulation of oceanborne international transportation of the U.S., said it is consolidating its investigative and prosecution functions into a newly created Bureau of Enforcement, Investigations, and Compliance (BEIC) effective immediately. FMC Chairman Daniel B. Maffei said the reorganization “enhances FMC’s capacity to closely scrutinize the conduct of the ocean carrier companies and marine terminal operators to ensure compliance with the law and fairness for American importers and exporters”.
Supertanker rescues Syrian refugees at sea
A Greek-registered supertanker recently came to the rescue of a group of Syrian refugees stranded without water, food and fuel in the Mediterranean Sea. Late in the evening on May 27, 2022, Samaris Konstantinos from Brittania forwarded an email that the club’s emergency line received from the NGO ‘Watch the Med’ in regard to a rescue request nearby the Euronav very large crude carrier (VLCC) Antigone. Eight Syrian refugees, including seven men and one female, were sailing a small craft and were without water, food, and fuel for their engine. The email from the NGO was originally received by Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) Malta, RCC Rome and the authorities in Malta and Italy. It was then circulated to Euronav’s Operations Manager and the Designated Person Ashore (DPA) and it was agreed to get in touch with the Antigone.
Baltic dry index extends losses to seventh session
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index posted a loss on Tuesday for the seventh straight session, its longest losing streak in about four months, pressured by lower rates across vessel segments. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, lost 55 points, or 2.9 percent, to 1,817 points. The capesize index dropped 91 points, or 4.4 percent, to 1,971 points. Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, were down $753 to $16,374. “With many routes indicating sluggish signs in terms of activity taking place, it will most probably take some time before any reversal to this trend takes place, source recorded.