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Friday, June 7, 2024
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Ports News

06 Jun 2024

Port Strike Suspended at Argentine Grains Hub

© AlexPhotoStock / Adobe Stock

Port worker unions in Argentina cut short a planned strike in grains shipping ports in the Rosario region following government-ordered talks, a union head said on Thursday, in welcome news for the country's farm exports.The area north of the city of Rosario along the Parana River is Argentina's main agricultural exports hub, where more than 80% of its processed soybeans, corn, wheat and other farm products are shipped to global markets.The FESIMAF maritime workers federation, which groups several unions…

05 Jun 2024

Final Truss Blocking Fort McHenry Federal Channel Removed

Source: Keybridgeresponse2024

Ten weeks after the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, salvage crews successfully removed the final large steel truss segment blocking the 700-foot-wide Fort McHenry Federal Channel on June 3-4.Using concrete breakers, underwater surveys, and oxyacetylene torches, they separated tons of concrete roadway, cable, and steel rebar from "Section 4C" while removing debris with clamshell dredges.On May 20, Unified Command had cleared the Federal Channel to a width of 400 feet and a depth of 50 feet, allowing deep-draft commercial vessels to access the Port of Baltimore.

05 Jun 2024

Public-private Partnership to Build $635 Million Port Terminal in Delaware

(Image: Enstructure)

The State of Delaware will join the private operator of the Port of Wilmington, Enstructure, to build a new port terminal at a site in Edgemoor, Delaware. The Edgemoor industrial site was purchased in 2017 by the taxpayer-owned Diamond State Port Corporation (DSPC) which subsequently secured the necessary permits to construct a new port terminal.This $635 million infrastructure project will be largest shipping terminal in Delaware since the current Port of Wilmington opened in 1923.

04 Jun 2024

Maersk Skips Sailings Due to Significant Port Congestion in Asia, Mediterranean

© harlequin9 / Adobe Stock

Maersk faces significant terminal congestion in Mediterranean and Asian ports, causing substantial delays in its vessel schedule, the Danish shipping group said in a statement on Monday.As a result of that congestion, the world's second-largest container shipping company, will skip two westbound sailings from China and South Korea that had been planned to depart in early July, it added.The notice from Maersk comes as global supply chains are suffering cascading delays and higher costs due to the Yemen's Houthi militant attacks on commercial vessels near the Suez Canal.

04 Jun 2024

Cocaine Seized from Container at Port of Gemlik

© tuastockphoto / Adobe Stock

Turkish authorities seized 373 kilograms (822 lb) of cocaine shipped from Latin America and hidden in a container at the Turkish port of Gemlik, detaining nine suspects, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Tuesday.The minister said on X that the operation against a criminal group trafficking drugs, "Operation Narco-Steel-20", was carried out in Istanbul and the northwestern city of Bursa.(Reuters - Reporting by Burcu Karakas; Editing by Daren Butler)

03 Jun 2024

Maersk Faces Significant Port Congestion in Asia, Mediterranean

© tonyv3112 / Adobe Stock

Maersk faces significant terminal congestion in Mediterranean and Asian ports, causing substantial delays in its vessel schedule, the Danish shipping group said in a statement on Monday.As a result of that congestion, the world's second-largest container shipping company, will skip two westbound sailings from China and South Korea that had been planned to depart in early July, it added.The notice from Maersk comes as global supply chains are suffering cascading delays and higher costs due to the Yemen's Houthi militant attacks on commercial vessels near the Suez Canal.

03 Jun 2024

Inchcape Shipping Services Acquires Grieg Logistics

(File photo: Grieg Logistics)

Port agency and marine services company Inchcape Shipping Services on Monday announced it has acquired Grieg Logistics AS from the Grieg Group, strengthening its presence in the NordicsUnder the new ownership, Grieg Logistics will continue to operate under the same name for a period and existing management headed by CEO Stig Trygve Andersen.Grieg Logistics operates terminals at Tønsberg, Mosjøen and Skålevik, and it has offices in Tønsberg, Larvik, Bergen, Mongstad, Kristiansund and Mosjøen, offering ship agency services all along the Norwegian coastline, mainly with its own staff.

30 May 2024

Singapore's Tuas Port to Add Three More Berths

© ake1150 / Adobe Stock

Three new berths will start operations at Singapore Tuas Port later this year to tackle extended waiting times for ships after Red Sea shipping tensions boosted vessel arrivals, said Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA).The diversion of vessels around the Cape of Good Hope has disrupted arrival schedules at major ports globally and has caused a "vessels bunching" effect for container vessels calling at Singapore this year, MPA said in a statement late Thursday.The new berths will bring the total number of operating berths to 11 at Tuas Port and will help handle the higher container ve

29 May 2024

Antwerp Euroterminal Readies Shore Power Facility

Source: Port of Antwerp-Bruges

Antwerp Euroterminal (AET) is installing two shore power connections which, when operational in 2026, will be the first in Belgium for seagoing vessels.The two fixed shore power connections will be used by car carriers and con-ro vessels. AET is Europe's largest multipurpose terminal and one of 24 terminals of the Grimaldi Group. Although the European obligation to provide shore power for container vessels by 2030 does not apply to ro-ro and con-ro vessels, AET deliberately chooses…

22 May 2024

Green Shipping Corridors Planned Between UK and Ireland

Stefano Sommadossi (Source:
 NatPower Marine)

NatPower Marine and Peel Ports Group have announced plans to establish the first “green shipping corridors” between Ireland and the UK.The proposed project would see NatPower Marine develop the UK’s first commercial electric ship (e-ship) charging network to support electric propulsion and shoreside power as part of a global network.The network – which would require an estimated £100m investment from NatPower Marine – would see this dedicated e-ship charging infrastructure delivered across all eight UK and Irish ports operated by Peel Ports Group.

22 May 2024

Russia Planning New Sea Terminal for LPG Exports to Asia

© Wojciech Wrzesień / Adobe Stock

Russia will likely open its first liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) terminal on the Pacific Ocean coast with joint investments from China by the end of 2025, two industry sources said on Wednesday.Last week, Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) struck an agreement with Chinese petrochemical company Haiwei to finance the marine terminal in Russia's Far East to ship LPG. It did not provide the timings for the project completion.The agreement, signed ahead of President Vladimir Putin's visit to China on May 16-17…

21 May 2024

Blue Visby Trial Demonstrates Significant CO2 Emissions Savings

© A. Emson / Adobe Stock

The first voyages of the Blue Visby Prototype Trials took place in March/April 2024 with the bulk carriers Gerdt Oldendorff and the Begonia, which, under voyage charter to Blue Visby Consortium member CBH Group, performed ballast voyages to CBH Group’s Kwinana Grain Terminal, Australia.The Blue Visby Solution is aimed at eradicating Sail Fast Then Wait (SFTW): the operational practice of ships that sail to their destination "with the utmost despatch", without regard to other ships or to the conditions at the destination.

23 May 2024

Port of Seattle Breaks Ground on Maritime Innovation Center

Rendering courtesy Miller Hull Partnership

The Port of Seattle has commenced the renovation of the historic Ship Supply Building at Fishermen’s Terminal, aiming to transform it into a modern Maritime Innovation Center (MInC). This new facility will support the maritime industry by bringing together students, businesses, public agencies, and community stakeholders. The port is partnering with Miller Hull for the construction.“Today’s groundbreaking is a celebration of the Port’s substantial commitment to support innovation as a way to foster the maritime industry’s ability to sustain our region’s blue economy…

20 May 2024

Prysmian Cements Partnership with Port of Middlesbrough with New Long-Term Deal

Prysmian’s Leonardo Da Vinci cable laying vessel (Credit: Port of Middlesbrough)

AV Dawson, owner and operator of Port of Middlesbrough, has signed a 10-year partnership agreement with Italian offshore cable manufacturer Prysmian. Prysmian first started using Port of Middlesbrough 10 years ago. Over the years, as the offshore wind industry has exploded and Prysmian has secured more contracts, Port of Middlesbrough has become central to the company’s operations and now acts as its northern European marine base.With further growth anticipated, Prysmian has secured additional warehousing and office space at the port as part of the new partnership deal.

16 May 2024

UK Bill Banning Live Animal Export Ready for Royal Assent

The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill had its third reading in UK Parliament on May 14 and now awaits Royal Assent to become law. The bill seeks to end the export of cattle, horses, sheep, goats and pigs for fattening and slaughter from and through England, Wales and Scotland.A speech made by UK King Charles on November 7, 2023, set out the government's agenda for the coming political year which included the bill.The legislation follows a 2020 consultation on ending live…

15 May 2024

Port of Los Angeles Nets $58 Million for Harbor Maintenance

(Photo: Port of Los Angeles)

The Port of Los Angeles will receive an estimated $58 million in federal funding this year for maintaining its harbor channels and repairing its wharves, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced. According to the port, the record amount—a nearly tenfold increase compared with $6 million it received in 2023—reflects the federal government's commitment to fully implementing long sought reforms to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF).“The San Pedro Bay ports move 40% of the nation’s container imports, transporting the goods that power our economy,” said California Sen. Alex Padilla.

14 May 2024

Second Generation Intelligent Tugs Delivered to Tianjin Port

Source: Robert Allan Ltd.

Tianjin Port has held a naming ceremony for its two latest RAmparts 3500 ASD tugs, Jingang Lun 36 and Jingang Lun 37, designed by Robert Allan Ltd.During a six-day extensive sea trial, Jingang Lun 36 and Jingang Lun 37 completed comprehensive self-control auto navigation tests which included automatic searching, approaching, and accompanying a target vessel at sea.The tugs were designed and constructed to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of CCS. This is reportedly…

14 May 2024

Port of New Orleans CEO Brandy Christian to Step Down

Brandy D. Christian (Photo: Port NOLA)

The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) announced that its President and CEO Brandy D. Christian will step down mid-June 2024 to pursue an opportunity in the private sector. Christian has served as the President and CEO of Port NOLA since January 1, 2017, and as the CEO of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB) since its acquisition by Port NOLA on February 1, 2018, during which time Port NOLA increased operating revenues by 70% and NOPB increased operating income by 300%."We cannot overstate the exemplary leadership that Brandy Christian has provided throughout her tenure…

14 May 2024

Methanol-Fueled Tugboat Launched

Image courtesy Kelly Cuyvers / Port of Antwerp-Bruges

Today, a 'world first' was unveiled in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges: the Methatug, a tugboat which runs on methanol, part of a 'greening program' for the port's fleet. The project is financed by the European research program Horizon 2020 and is part of the FASTWATER project, which aims to demonstrate the feasibility of methanol as a sustainable fuel for the shipping industry.The 30-m-long tugboat has a traction force of 50 tons and can store 12,000 liters of methanol, enough for two weeks of tug work.

12 May 2024

Worker Dies in Accident at Peru's Chancay Megaport Project

© Tanya / Adobe Stock

Hong Kong-based Cosco Shipping Ports said on Saturday that a worker died in an early-morning accident at a megaport it is building on Peru's Pacific coast.The worker was doing sanding and painting work at the deepwater Chancay Port Terminal when the accident occurred, the company said in a statement.The company said it was investigating the circumstances of the incident and was coordinating with authorities.Cosco, which began developing Chancay port in 2019 as a hub in the South American Pacific…

10 May 2024

Building the Next-Gen Maritime Prepositioning Ship & Auxiliary Crane Ship

The Military Sealift Command chartered ship MV Ocean Gladiator carried cargo to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, for Operation Deep Freeze 2024 in support of the National Science Foundation (NSF), lead agency for the United States Antarctic Program. The ship carries cranes to handle its own cargo.  (Military Sealift Command)

The Military Sealift Command’s Maritime Prepositioning Ships (MPS) and Auxiliary Crane Ships (ACS) were built 50 years ago to pre-position vehicles and supplies in forward locations and load or unload them in undeveloped or damaged port facilities. I serve with MSC’s Taluga Group, charged with finding innovative solutions to pressing problems. One of those challenges is meeting the MPS and ACS mission as the current ships continue to serve past their expected service lines.To…

08 May 2024

Conflict Heating Up Over Cosco's Megaport in Peru

© Ulf / Adobe Stock

The Chinese state-owned company at the center of a dispute over operations of a megaport it is building on Peru's Pacific coast insisted on Tuesday on terms agreed with the government, as some local officials have sought to backtrack on the deal.Hong Kong-based Cosco Shipping Ports will defend its legal rights to provide services as the exclusive operator of the deepwater Chancay Port Terminal under "terms that were agreed at the beginning of this investment," the firm said in…

08 May 2024

McDermott’s Subsidiary Grabs Marsa LNG Job Worth Up To $250M

© aerial-drone / Adobe Stock

CB&I, a wholly owned subsidiary of McDermott, has been awarded a significant contract by TotalEnergies and OQ joint venture for the engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) of a full containment concrete liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tank, located in Oman's Port of Sohar.Under the contract, awarded by Marsa Liquefied Natural Gas, CB&I will provide turnkey EPC services for a 165,000m3 full containment concrete LNG storage tank and associated piping to grade.Project delivery will be executed in Oman…