Seaarland group of companies and Motia Compagnia di Navigazione have acted to ensure the safety of their crews, ships and cargoes until the escalating piracy situation off East Africa and in the Gulf of Aden is brought under control.Antonio Zacchello, managing director of Seaarland group of companies and Motia,
McQuilling Services, LLC, marine transport advisors, released a message addressing the economic impact of pirate attacks on tankers.Excerpt:“The recent pirate attack on the VLCC Sirius Star – 319,430 dwt built 2008 – that took place offshore Kenyan coast, has implied
Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (Nasdaq: SBLK), a global shipping company focusing on transportation of dry bulk cargoes, announced its operating results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2008. Financial highlights include: Third Quarter 2008 • The Company reported net income of $35.
Somalia is now the backdrop against which increasing levels of piracy are seen. With both the frequency and violence of attacks thought to be growing, there is mounting pressure on governments, international agencies, and the shipping industry to tackle the problem.Tackling Piracy is an
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued the interim rule regarding importer security filing and additional carrier requirements (better known as “10 + 2”). The rule will require importers to notify CBP at least 24 hours before cargo is loaded on a vessel bound for the United
The Ninth Coast Guard District will commence Operation Big Tow within the Great Lakes area of responsibility to ensure commercial tugs are compliant with rules, regulations and licensing procedures. The Coast Guard is conducting Operation Big Tow as a continuous safety message to the maritime industry community.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report stating that some major Department of Homeland Security (DHS) programs lack appropriate oversight. For example, the Secure Freight Initiative, designed to test the feasibility of scanning 100% of US-bound cargo containers with nonintrusive
The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) issued a circular reminding the maritime community that the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 (Bunker Convention) comes into force on 21 November 2008. As of that date, ships having a gross tonnage
A Liberian-flagged very large crude tanker, Sirius Star, was attacked more than 450 nautical miles southeast of Mombasa, Kenya, Nov. 15.The ship is owned by the Saudi Arabian-based Saudi Aramco and is operated by Vela International. The crew of 25 includes citizens of: Croatia, Great Britain,
Inspectors with several federal and State of Hawaii agencies joined forces to enforce hazardous materials shipping requirements and standards in several key Hawaii ports.The U.S. Coast Guard helped organized the 2008 Multi Agency Strike Force Operation (MASFO 2008) on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island, Nov.
According to an Associated Press report, Somali pirates hijacked a Saudi supertanker loaded with crude hundreds of miles off the coast of East Africa — defeating the security web of warships trying to protect vital shipping lanes.The takeover demonstrates the bandits' heightened ambitions
Abu Dhabi Ship Building has been awarded a contract to build four landing craft for the Bahrain Naval Forces. The multi-million dollar contract was won in the face of competition from international shipyards.This is the second Bahraini order for Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), the only dedicated
The Coast Guard, Washington Department of Ecology (ECY,) American President Line (APL) shipping company and the Seattle Fire Department along with assistance from U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are investigating a reported fire aboard a cargo vessel.The 873-ft. motor vessel APL
U.S. Coast Guard units operating in the Houston - Galveston area of responsibility have as of 4 p.m. Tuesday processed 51 reports of pollution and repaired or replaced 40 percent of critical aids to navigation damaged or missing in the wake of Hurricane Ike.Of the 51 pollution reports, 15 incidents require active cleanup,
What are your thoughts on the recent collision that occurred on the Mississippi River that resulted in hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel oil to spill and the requisite closure?JW: The Mississippi River is a very busy waterway. While the US Coast Guard and local
Captain Bruce Clark, who serves as Director of Maritime Security Projects at the California Maritime Academy (CMA) in Vallejo, Calif., shares with MN some thoughts on current and future maritime safety initiatives.How is Cal Maritime developing the next generation in an industry with evolving maritime security measures.
Speed. When Zodiac unveiled its Hurricane MACH2 earlier this year, its eye-popping 60+ knot speed caught the attention of potential military and port security clients. "Today, if you're not 50 knots plus, you're not in the running," said J.J. Marie, president, Zodiac, at the Mach2's
Maritime Security and the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2008For the past several years, maritime security has been on everyone's mind. From the halls of Congress to the longshoremen working the midnight shift, the threat of a possible terrorist attack on the maritime interests of the
Understanding the maritime threat requires an historical review of criminal and terrorist elements. A closer look at the methodologies of terrorism gives greater insight to the maritime condition as it stands today. Some threats have remained for years, others are practiced daily in far away places; distant from the comfort we call our homeland.
LRIT is approaching fast and with penalties expected for non-compliance the next few months will see a rash of activity as vessel's scramble to find out if their Inmarsat C equipment is already compatible…The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted an amendment to Chapter
The American Association of Port Authorities' (AAPA) 12th Port Security Seminar and Exhibition, is being held in Houston, Tex., July 16-18. The expo plans to address concerns focusing on the security and safety challenges confronting public seaport agencies and marine terminal operators throughout the Western Hemisphere.
Tugboats puff out more soot for the amount of fuel used than other commercial vessels, and large cargo ships emit more than twice as much soot as previously estimated, according to the first extensive study of commercial vessel soot emissions. Scientists from NOAA and the University of Colorado conducted
At its annual general meeting in New Orleans in May, Jeanne M. Grasso was elected President of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) USA. As President of WISTA USA, Ms. Grasso will serve as a member of the six-person elected board, which includes: Vice President Linda Turnbow (Ocean Shipholdings, Inc.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued the report of its review of the Cargo Enforcement Reporting and Tracking System (CERTS) administered by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). CERTS is intended to gather data on cargo examination findings and
Joint ventures in Qatar in which Exxon Mobil Corporation participates will start up projects over the next two years that will bring more liquefied natural gas to market than any other international oil company, Rex Tillerson, chairman and chief executive officer, said. Speaking at the 19th World Petroleum Congress in Madrid, Mr.
On April 24, 2008, the US House of Representatives passed and sent to the Senate the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2008 (H.R. 2830). If history is any guide, a large percentage of its provisions will eventually be enacted into law. It therefore behooves the maritime industry to have some
Safe Bulkers, Inc. filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission inanticipation of a planned initial public offering of its common stock. Safe Bulkers is an international provider of marine drybulk transportation services, transporting bulk cargoes, such as grain, iron ore and coal,
Two Military Sealift Command ships completed the at-sea offload of more than 350 pieces of equipment and supplies belonging to the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force today in Thailand. The cargo, including wheeled and tracked vehicles, ammunition and supplies, will be used in Cobra Gold – an annual
This is an open letter to the offshore oil and gas industry operating on the U.S. outer continental shelf. Dear Customer: We need to talk about the Jones Act and the other cabotage laws that require you to use U.S.-flag vessels to transport cargo and people from one part of America to another.
The US Naval Forces Central Command issued the following press release:MANAMA, Bahrain - While transiting north in international waters in the Central Arabian Gulf April 24 at approximately 8 a.m. local time, Motor Vessel Westward Venture was approached by two unidentified small boats.Following proper procedure,
Five year, global agreement to work toward improved productivity and efficiency, land utilization, environmental sensitivity and public awareness of the container terminal industry
U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) will be honored as the American Association of Port Authorities' (AAPA) "Port Person of the Year" at the port association's annual Washington People's Luncheon on April 1 in Washington, D.C.'s historic Willard Inter-Continental Hotel. AAPA - a trade organization representing
The United Nations Security Council said that it approved a new round of sanctions against Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment and heavy-water-related activities. Among other things, the new resolution calls on all States, in accordance with domestic and international law, to inspect
Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) announces the addition of two U.S. flag RoRo vessels in the Maritime Security Program (MSP) and Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement(VISA). The two vessels will carry U.S. government, preference and commercial cargo. Both vessels will operate in a round-the-world service and have completed the reflagging process.
Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) announces the addition of two U.S. flag roll-on/roll-off vessels in the Maritime Security Program (MSP) and Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA). The two vessels will carry U.S. government, preference and commercial cargo. Both vessels will operate in a round-the-world
India’s newest private shipbuilding firm,Pipavav Shipyard Ltd, is the latest in a growing list of firms looking to enter the business of making diesel ship engines in an attempt to meet growing demand for these in India and in other parts of the world, and is talking to two multinational firms for a partnership.
President Bush’s fiscal year 2009 budget request for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) represents $50.5 billion in funding, which is an increase of 6.8 percent over the 2008 fiscal year level – excluding funds provided in emergency supplemental funding. The request targets five areas, detailed
On Friday 1 February 2008, Fairstar’s heavy transport vessel ‘Fjord’ successfully completed three
days of extensive tests on all aspects of the ballast system executed in Malta. The recently
converted heavy transport vessel ‘Fjord’ is now ready and capable of loading and transporting all
kinds of floating and non-floating heavy cargoes.
The Pakistan government has decided to upgrade the basic infrastructure for construction of commercial cargo ships and warships, including F-22 P frigates, in Karachi, according to a report on www.uniquepakistan.com.
The government has allocated funds for the fiscal year 2007-08 and it has already
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published on January 2, 2008 a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) requiring importers and carriers to electronically submit additional information on cargo before it is brought into the United States by vessel. The Security Filing, also known as “10+2,” is