News

The 'Jos Deschenes' suffered a failure of its whistle while crossing between Sorel Tracy and Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola, Quebec, on March 15, 2020. The vessel remained in operation while the crew carried out repairs.

On March 15, 2020, the 'Rova', coming from Rekefjord, suffered engine trouble in the German Bight, shortly before Wangerooge, and requested tug assistance. The tugs 'Stella' and 'Florian' were deployed to the ship and towed it to Wilhelmshaven and brought it to the dock at the Rova Hafenumschlag GmbH at 1.40 p.m. The damage was repaired at the quay, and the ship left the port after repairs again on March 17 at 5.35 p.m., headed to Rekefjord with an ETA as of March 19. Photo: https://scontent-dus1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/89894446_1504978286346442_3168712899736633344_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_sid=8024bb&_nc_ohc=dpjD8Qfqh3cAX-shoCY&_nc_ht=scontent-dus1-1.xx&oh=1d4280f38599f6a13a57a6310ad3abd9&oe=5E95598B

Customs at China’s northern port of Dalian has banned imports of Australian coal and will cap overall coal imports from all sources to the end of 2019 at 12 million tonnes, an official at Dalian Port Group told Reuters on Thursday. The indefinite ban on imports from top supplier Australia, effective since the start of February, comes as major ports elsewhere in China prolong clearing times for Australian coal to at least 40 days.

Complimentary to the introduction of four (4) sailings per week between Zeebrugge and Göteborg – since January 2018 – we are pleased to inform you about the next step in our strategy in order to upgrade the service level towards our customers, offering frequent and reliable ferry crossings. As from 24 February 2019 onwards, CLdN ro-ro will deploy a larger vessel on the Göteborg trade. By introducing M/V CATHERINE, one of our CONRO class vessels, which are extremely suitable to accommodate trailers and containers, the total capacity on the trade will be increased by a further 20%. The introduction of m/v CATHERINE links perfectly in with CLdN’s long-term strategy to continue deploying larger vessels on the trade.

The 'AM Zenica' was dragging anchors off Port-Cartier, Quebec, due to adverse weather in position 50 01 19.8N, 66 47 20.7W, on March 10, 2020, at 11.30 a.m. The vessel hove anchors and proceeded offshore to await improved weather conditions. The ship was enroute from Terneuzen to Port Cartier.

The 'Weeks 541' started placing shipping containers into the St. Simons Sound off St. Simons Island, near the 'Golden Ray' on March 12. The salvage contractor T&T Salvage and environmental protection barrier contractor Weeks Marine will soon place multiple containers in arcs around the bow and stern of the 'Golden Ray' in an effort to reduce tidal flow effects during salvage operations. Contractors were using sonar technology to guide the accurate placement of the containers in real time. Report with photo: https://ssiresponse.com/photo-release-containers-are-placed-around-the-vessel-to-reduce-tidal-flow-effects/

It looks like Royal Caribbean is exploring the possibility of developing a cruise port in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Tribune Business quoted Bahamas Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar, who indicated Royal Caribbean in partnership with Mexican port developer, ITM Group, is looking to acquire the Grand Lucayan and develop a proposed water-based, adventure-type theme park at both the resort and Freeport Harbour. It looks like ITM Group and Royal Caribbean are looking to develop a new port in Freeport that can handle four new cruise ship berths in Freeport Harbour, which would double the port's current capacity. The proposal has generated some concerns that the new port would come at the expense of cruise ship visits to Nassau.

GT USA Wilmington has begun work on the initial set of major improvements at the Port of Wilmington and is on track to complete warehouse improvements and dock and crane rail extension on schedule in the coming months, announced Chief Executive Officer Eric Casey. Extension of the dock and crane rail should be completed this summer at a cost of $17 million. Also, in process is enhancing warehouse storage by increasing racking for palletized cargo and upgrading the roof to improve safety and security. “In the coming months we’ll commence work to upgrade the cargo throughput capability from 350,000 TEUs to 600,00 TEUs and add capacity for roll-on roll-off cargo,” Casey said.

The 'Lady I' ran aground on March 17, 2020, around midnight on the Paraná river, upstream of San Lorenzo port, shortly after unmooring while being underway downstream with a cargo of maize on board. The tug 'Brutus' (MMSI: 701006670) was called to assist. Traffic was not affected by the bulkcarrier which was stuck in pos. 32° 38.72' S 060° 44.21' W. On March 18 also the tug 'Tumbador I' (MMSI: 701006569) arrived at the grounding site. On March 19 the 'Coopor Esptibador I' (IMO: 9769362) was on site along with the 'Brutus'. The bulkcarrier has been refloated and dropped anchor on March 24 at 3.15 a.m. in pos. 38° 41.12' N 058° 37.59' W off Necochea, its port of destination.

The 'Grandeur of the Seas' which was currently on its final cruise before the suspending operations has been hit with a gastrointestinal outbreak. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 83 passengers have come down with the bug which causes vomiting and diarrhea. Six crew members have also picked up the sickness which has been confirmed by the CDC as Norovirus. There were no cases of COVID-19 onboard. There was a total of 1,764 passengers and 798 crew members onboard the current sailing. As a result, the cruise ship has implemented its procedures which included collecting samples for officials, making announcements to keep everyone informed of the outbreak, extra sanitation and more. Guests will also have a staged disembarkation process to limit the spread when the Royal Caribbean cruise ship arrives back to Baltimore on March 19. The following sailing which was scheduled to depart the port on March 19 has already been cancelled.

Marine LNG Zeebrugge, a joint venture of Gas4Sea partners Engie, Mitsubishi Corporation and NYK, has signed an agreement with the Norwegian energy group Equinor for supplying four crude shuttle tankers with LNG marine fuel in the port of Rotterdam. The four planned dual fuel vessels are to come into service in early 2020 and will be operated by Equinor in Northern European seas. Marine LNG Zeebrugge will utilise LNG bunkering vessel Engie Zeebrugge, which has an LNG capacity of 5,000 cu m, for the bunkering operations.

Container terminals managed by DP World Australia are set for delays and increased turnaround times as stevedores with the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) prepare to strike. Workers at DP World Brisbane, DP World Fremantle, DP World Melbourne and DP World Sydney have been granted approval from the Fair Work Commission to hold a ballot allowing protected strike action after DP World said it would cancel a union-backed income protection scheme. “Wharfies working at container terminals in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Fremantle are outraged after management at DP World Australia — the largest stevedore in the country — moved to strip them of income protection insurance unless they accepted the company’s demands,” stated the MUA.