Category: Shipping

Expensive LNG: Command back on two ferries

High LNG costs are forcing Norwegian Fjord Lines, based in Egersund, to convert two LNG-powered ferries to run on traditional marine gas oil (MGO). "The energy crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to exceptional volatility and significant price increases for LNG - and the price increases have been far higher than for traditional and less sustainable marine energy sources. ... This has led to a dramatic increase in energy costs for Fjord Line's two LNG-fuelled vessels, which is well above a financially sustainable level," the company explained. First LNG ferries Since last autumn...

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Study: Impact of China's port development projects on the maritime environment

As reported by "The Maritime Executive" at the beginning of December, a study by various US universities shows the dangerous effects for socio-ecological marine systems of the port development projects being aggressively pursued by China, particularly in the Caribbean and around Africa. It is well known that China lures many developing countries into long-term debt through port, power plant and road investments in order to be able to exert intensive influence by acquiring ownership and utilisation rights. A good 20 per cent of all Chinese financing initiatives for development projects abroad - a volume of almost USD 65 billion - come from the China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank...

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Mobile phone at the helm and WhatsApp on the bridge

The 20,000 TEU container freighter "Ever Given", wedged diagonally into the embankment in the Suez Canal with the prominent white inscription of the shipping company EVERGREEN (Taiwan) on the frog-green side of the ship, is still a fond memory for anyone involved in shipping. Less spectacular and also having a much smaller impact on international goods traffic was an accident that occurred on 13 March 2022 to the "Ever Forward", a container ship from Hong Kong with a capacity of 11,850 TEU, which was also unmistakably labelled EVERGREEN, after a missed course change before entering Norfolk/Virginia: it ran squarely into the really sticky silt of the Chesapeake Bay at full speed and was unable to...

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Three stowaways on the rudder blade

It's a Christmas story - but unfortunately it's true! At the end of November, a Spanish coastguard patrol in the harbour of Las Palmas/Gran Canaria recovered three male refugees in very poor condition from the top of the rudder blade of a tanker and admitted them to hospital. No wonder - they had been clinging to the "Alithini II" for twelve days on the 2,700-mile journey from Lagos/Nigeria. It is actually incredible that they were not caught by a wave and disappeared unnoticed forever. The three are now on the road to recovery. But...

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US Navy: Warships on a collision course

It's only a short video, but it's sure to make even the most hardened sailor look up: Two warships in immediate need of manoeuvring! In early December, a situation arose in San Diego Bay in which the 16,000-tonne dock landing ship LSD 49 "USS Harpers Ferry" and the destroyer DDG 92 "USS Momsen" were on a collision course. A swift evasive manoeuvre by the destroyer resolved the situation before the much more inert amphibious craft could show any discernible reaction. Now the superior authorities in the U.S. Pacific Fleet are once again dealing with navigational safety on board. To experience - and learn. Video...

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