Spanish police make two cocaine busts
Spanish authorities are reporting that they have made a second cocaine seizure as they continue to search the containers coming off a vessel that two weeks ago was found to be transporting cocaine into Spain. The investigation is ongoing into the vessel and its possible role in the smuggling while local government officials called it an “important finding” in the ongoing war on smuggling.
The incident started in mid-November when a Turkish-owned and managed containership Izmit Express (37,000 dwt) was inbound into Spain on a run from Colombia and Panama. The vessel which was built in 2017 has a capacity of approximately 2,500 TEU.
According to media reports, the master of the vessel notified the Spanish authorities that they had discovered “suspicious packages” in a hard-to-reach area of its cargo holds. Spain’s National Police sealed access to the ship and began a thorough search of the vessel after it docked on November 17 at the Port of Vigo. The initial search of the packages found by the crew which were hidden in two different cargo holds was confirmed to be 23 kilos of cocaine. The search continued looking for possible additional smuggling aboard the vessel.
At Iroquois Reef Chinese helicopter hazes Philippine fishermen
Last week, after a PLA Navy helicopter harassed fishing vessels near Iroquois Reef in the Philippine exclusive economic zone, the Philippine Coast Guard deployed two of its newest cutters to the area to help protect local fishermen. BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Cape Engaño were dispatched to the area to demonstrate the “firm stance and commitment of [President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] not to surrender a square inch of our territory to any foreign power,” the PCG said in a statement.
Construction study begin starts for larger, elevated pressure LCO2 carrier
As efforts continue to develop the anticipated carbon capture and transport market for storage, a new project continues to advance a promising technology called Elevated Pressure which could be more efficient and less costly for LCO2 transport. Japan’s NYK Group and its partnership Knutsen NYK Carbon Carriers reported they will conduct a joint “constructionability study” toward the goal of developing the new carrier.
“While CCS is still in its developmental stage in terms of technology and market structure, the joint study of the LCO2-EP terminal-to-terminal vessel with KNCC and NYK is an important step for us to bring one of the viable options to the market,” said Tomoaki Takahira, Director, Chief of Design Division for Nihon Shipyard, a joint venture for ship design and sales between Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and Japan Marine United Corporation. “In addition to medium-pressure and low-pressure vessels, we will continue to study the construction of LCO2-EP vessels to contribute to the establishment of the CCS value chain.”
Greenpeace protests arrival of vessel in Germany with USA LNG
The international environmental group Greenpeace renewed its campaign against the use of LNG targeting the arrival of a new large gas carrier coming from the U.S. to offload at one of Germany’s floating LNG import terminals. They renewed their calls for the end of the gas extraction method known as fracking and for Germany and other European countries to end their investments in LNG imports.
A group of approximately 22 Greenpeace protestors from Germany, Belgium, and Poland took to a flotilla of kayaks, small boats, and other floats to call attention to their cause as the Celsius Gandhinagar (92,385 dwt) was scheduled to arrive from the U.S. on November 30. The vessel, which entered service this year for Denmark’s Celsius Shipping, had loaded a cargo of LNG at the U.S.’s Calcasieu Pass terminal operated by Venture Global.
Shippers are preparing for Trump’s 2025 tariff curveball?
In his most recent announcement on tariffs president elect Donald Trump said he would impose 10 percent tariff increases on all Chinese goods and 25 percent on Mexican and Canadian imports, further ramping up fears of a trade war.
Shippers are expected to pre-empt these extra costs by stockpiling ahead of Trump’s inauguration on 20 January, and pre-empt any “curveball” that Xeneta said could come their way after Trump takes office.
If shippers are stockpiling, then it is yet to be reflected in the rates, with Linerlytica saying this week: “Carriers’ efforts to push ahead with various rate hikes in November and December have stemmed the rate reductions of the previous three months, giving the carriers an improved bargaining position ahead of the new contract negotiations for 2025.”
Spain refusing to handle US freight: FMC
US Federal Maritime Commissioner Carl Bentzel told Seatrade Maritime News that Spain is refusing to handle US cargo because it fears that weapons are being sent to Israel.
Intensification of the Middle East conflict has prompted an apparent response from Madrid, to prevent US cargo, and arms destined for the Israeli military in particular, through its ports, according to FMC’s Bentzel.
The Israel government is coming under increasing pressure to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and has been heavily criticised for its conduct of operations in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Automobile exports from Shanghai Waigaoqiao hit latest high
According to the statistics released by Shanghai Customs, Haitong terminal exported 1.08 million vehicles during January and October, an increase of 28.8 percent year-on-year, two months earlier compared with last year to achieve the goal of 1 million automobile exports.
Haitong is the major specialised vehicle export terminal of Shanghai port, providing export services to over 200 ports worldwide. Its automobile export volume accounts for over 20 percent of the nation’s total amount.
With the recent commencement of operation at Cosco Shipping’s Chancay port, the ship owner has launched Far East-South America West Coast automobile carrier service this month embarked from Shanghai to Chancay, Peru, making a significant enhancement in transportation capacity for commercial vehicles at Shanghai.