Category: Shipping

Father Rhine - the water levels are dropping again!

The Rhine, a lifeline for Germany and large parts of Europe, already has such a low water level at the beginning of this summer that inland waterway traffic is being restricted. The water level at the narrows in Kaub/Rhineland-Palatinate at Rhine kilometre 546 was 1.43 metres last week and is expected to drop by a further 16 centimetres this week, according to ELWIS, the electronic waterway information service of the German Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV). Shallow water This is well below the seasonal norm, although a far cry from the low point in August last year, when the water level fell to 30 centimetres and shipping was largely suspended. Lifeline Rhine All tankers...

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MTG presents model of the "Gorch Fock"

At the Sunday reception of Kiel Week 2023 on the frigate "Bayern", Guido Gerdemann, Managing Director of Hamburg-based MTG Marinetechnik GmbH, presented a model of the "Gorch Fock" to Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, Inspector of the German Navy. As the sail training ship is currently in the North Atlantic and cannot be in Kiel, the Hamburg think tank and naval design office did not miss the opportunity to bring along the 1:62 scale model as a replacement and special gift for the 175th anniversary of the German Navy and present it to the inspector. In his speech, Gerdemann emphasised that Kieler Woche should not take place without a "Gorch Fock" - after all, it is a...

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Europe: Modern shipping regulation

The European Commission has developed five legislative proposals to provide EU countries with better procedures and tools to ensure safe, clean and modern shipping in their waters. After all, three-quarters of all EU external trade is carried out via maritime transport routes. Modernisation Three proposals focus on clear requirements for the inspection of ships by their flag states, but also on adapting the rules for port state control of foreign ships in the European Union to new international standards. In addition, these inspections, including accident investigations, should now also be able to be applied to the fisheries sector. Furthermore...

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Panama: Canal authority restricts passages

The water level in the Panama Canal is dropping due to the ongoing drought. Since 24 May, the so-called "Neo-Panamax" ships with the permitted ship dimensions of 366 metres long, 49 metres wide and a draught of 15.24 metres (50 feet) have only been allowed to have a draught of up to 13.5 metres for the new locks, instead of the already restricted 13.7 metres. To prevent ships from running aground, the draught restriction was further reduced to 13.4 metres on 29 May. Supply chains, wasn't there something? The draught restrictions mean that more ships are needed to transport the same amount of goods. This in turn leads to longer waiting times and disruption...

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Ceremonial handover on the Weser

On 30 May 2023, ABEKING & RASMUSSEN Schiffs- und Yachtwerft SE in Lemwerder ceremoniously handed over the two minehunting boats built for the Indonesian Navy on the Weser. The client had set a tight schedule for the shipyard with its almost 500 employees. The contract, which was awarded by the Indonesian Ministry of Defence on 29 January 2019, is worth 204 million US dollars (approx. 183 million euros). The design of the 62-metre vessels is based on the German Navy's Frankenthal class. The boats are equipped with a state-of-the-art sonar system and drones for mine warfare. As with MCM mission systems deployed by the German Navy on the Frankenthal class, drones will be used...

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