News

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.

DP World has recently launched a new water distribution centre increasing water supplies in Somaliland’s Berbera by 60 percent. The US$1 million project started in 2018 and includes four water wells, two shallow pools, two water troughs, a concrete reservoir tank and seven kilometre pipeline connected to the main water supply.

Feb 18 (Reuters) – A Spanish warship tried to order commercial shipping to leave anchorages in British waters near Gibraltar but was challenged by the British navy and sailed away, Gibraltar said, the latest example of tension over the strategic port as Brexit approaches. The Spanish ship tried to order ships to leave their anchorages on the eastern side of the Rock, but the ships stayed in position, Gibraltar’s authorities said. After being challenged by the British navy, the Spanish warship then sailed slowly along the coast with its weapons uncovered and manned. Spanish authorities did not immediately comment on the issue.

ICTSI inaugurates the expansion of its Batumi International Container Terminal International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) formally inaugurated the expansion of its Batumi International Container Terminal (BICT) in Georgia, the company said in its release. The expansion encompasses both the waterside and landside areas of the multipurpose terminal, intended to optimize the processing of existing cargo flows and install additional capacity to accommodate new business.

(Reuters) – The Finnish Seafarers’ Union threatened on Thursday, Feb.14 it would call its members out on strike from March 1, stopping all Finnish passenger and cargo vessels, including ice-breakers, if its pay demands are not met.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, inaugurated in Rabigh on Monday the King Abdullah Port during his visit to King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), reported the Saudi Press Agency. The port features state-of-the-art facilities including 18-meter water berths, which are the deepest in the world, and the world’s largest and most advanced cranes, which employ the latest technology and feature a 65-ton lifting capacity as well as a handling capacity of 25 containers. Such facilities enable the port to serve giant container vessels now and in the future.

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.

The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) on Friday suspended all coking coal handling operations at Mormugao Port Trust owing to “deteriorating air quality” in Vasco in South Goa. The order impacts South West Port Limited, a subsidiary of Jindal Steel and Adani, which imports coking coal at the port and transports it to its steel plants in north Karnataka. The order said that the operations had been suspended as heavy winds were carrying soot into residential areas.

Two workers were killed Monday in a fire that started in the engine room of an end-of-life tanker being dismantled at a shipbreaking yard in Chittagong, Bangladesh, the NGO Shipbreaking Platform has confirmed. Local media reports that the incident took place around 10:15 a.m. local time at the Shagorika Ship Breaking Yard on Monday.

At 469.0 million tonnes, the port of Rotterdam’s total throughput volume ended up slightly higher in 2018 than in 2017, which was itself a record year (467.4 million tonnes). Container transhipment was the engine of growth again, with a 4.5% increase in tonnage. Measured in TEUs, the standard unit for containers, the increase was 5.7% and the annual total was 14.5 million TEUs – also a record. This strengthens the position of Europe’s largest container port in this strategically important market segment. Significant underlying shifts were observable in the goods segments. Whereas container transhipment continued to grow at a healthy pace, that of crude oil, mineral oil products and agribulk fell. Throughput of LNG (+163.6%) and biomass (+31.6%) saw a further spectacular rises last year.

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has signed a deal to supply six Kalmar Zero Emission Rubber-tired Gantry cranes (RTGs) to South Florida Container Terminal, LLC. The cranes will be equipped with a busbar energy system and operator assist features like auto steering and container stack profiling.

German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said on Tuesday he was optimistic that Germany would build two terminals in the foreseeable future to import liquefied natural gas (LNG). As Germany phases out nuclear power and coal, it is increasingly turning to gas to compliment renewable energy sources. It is under pressure, especially from the United States, to cut its dependence on Russian gas and buy in LNG. Altmaier told a meeting with German and U.S. energy officials and industry lobbyists that Germany was weighing up the extent of state subsidies and regulations before private investors build the terminals needed for LNG imports. Of three sites under consideration – Brunsbuettel, Stade and Wilhelmshaven – Altmaier was confident terminals would be built at two in the foreseeable future.

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 new Rio-class container vessels visiting Port Chalmers weekly are causing sleepless nights for some residents, because of large, noisy generators aboard the bigger ships. The issue has prompted the port company to begin noise assessments at its various wharves and look for ways to mitigate the problem.

APM Terminals holds the concession to operate the Free Port of Monrovia for 25 years. Vessels coming to Liberia can now berth at the Freeport of Monrovia any time of the day and this has eliminated vessel waiting time and has improved efficiency and reduced logistics cost, APM Terminals Liberia announced on Wednesday, February 13, 2019. According to an official release, the company has commenced the berthing of vessels 24-hour a day at the Freeport of Monrovia. “Until now, the berthing, mooring, pilotage, and towage of vessels at the Freeport of Monrovia was restricted to only day-time operations between 8am-6pm,” the release said.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) has ordered a sixth Oasis-class cruise ship from French shipbuilder Chantiers de l'Atlantique. Set to be delivered in autumn 2023, the newbuild will join the Oasis class alongside Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas and a fifth ship which has yet to be named. “It is such a pleasure to announce the order of another Oasis-class ship,” said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of RCL.

The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) pays more attention to its users best interest, and has recently taken steps towards being the safest, most secure, most reliable and most competitive compared to other routes. Considering the new changes in the global shipping market, and world economy; and in line with the SCA flexible marketing policies, the SCA has decided that circular no. 3/2018 concerning the rebate granted to (Laden/Ballast) Dry Bulk Vessels; operating between Americas’ ports and Asian ports, shall remain in force till the end of 2019 (the last permissible sailing date from origin port is 31 December 2019) :

Based on the present and projected level of Gatun Lake for the following weeks, effective February 27, 2019, the maximum authorized draft for vessels transiting the Neopanamax Locks will be 14.63m (48.0 feet) Tropical Fresh Water (TFW). Vessels arriving with drafts over 14.63 m (48.0 feet) TFW may be allowed to transit past February 27, 2019, depending on the actual level of Gatun Lake at the time of transit. Otherwise, they will be required to trim or off-load cargo in order to be allowed to transit. Draft adjustments will be announced in 12 inch (30.5 cm) decrements, generally with at least four weeks advance notice.