1. Official visit of the new Cyprus Shipping Deputy Minister at the Cyprus Shipping Chamber
Following a relevant invitation on the occasion of her recent assumption of duties, the new Shipping Deputy Minister, Mrs. Marina Hadjimanolis had an official meeting, on 13 March 2023, with the Cyprus Shipping Chamber’s Board of Directors, at the Chamber’s office, in Limassol. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/03/13/official-visit-of-the-new-cyprus-shipping-deputy-minister-at-the-cyprus-shipping-chamber/
2. GSBN collaborates with COSCO SHIPPING, OOCL & SICIT to enhance safe transportation of chemical cargo
Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN), an independent, not-for-profit technology consortium building a blockchain-enabled operating system designed to redefine global trade, today announces its collaboration with COSCO SHIPPING Lines (COSCO SHIPPING), Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), and the Shanghai Research Institute of Chemical Industry Testing Co., Ltd (SICIT), to improve the safe transportation of chemical cargo by harnessing blockchain technology. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/03/13/gsbn-collaborates-with-cosco-shipping-oocl-sicit-to-enhance-safe-transportation-of-chemical-cargo/
3. Energean confirm first gas safely delivered at North El Amriya and North Idku offshore Egypt
The NEA/NI development, located in shallow water, offshore Egypt, contains an estimated 39 mmboe[1] of 2P reserves (88% gas) with net working interest production expected to peak at 15 – 20 kboed (88% gas) in 2024. The development leverages existing infrastructure and involves the subsea tieback of four wells to Energean’s North Abu Qir PIII platform. Energean sanctioned the project in January 2021, representing a development period from final investment decision to first gas of 2 years and 2 months. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/03/13/energean-confirm-first-gas-safely-delivered-at-north-el-amriya-and-north-idku-offshore-egypt/
4. hiSky Rolls out a New Hybrid IoT Connectivity Service with the SmartelliteTM terminal’s LTE/4G automatic switching capabilities
hiSky announce the launch of their new hybrid IoT connectivity services. The new service which will be available globally to all Smartellite™ Ku/Ka-band terminal owners, enables dual mode connectivity, automatically switching between satellite and LTE/4G. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/03/13/hisky-rolls-out-a-new-hybrid-iot-connectivity-service-with-the-smartellitetm-terminals-lte-4g-automatic-switching-capabilities/
5. The Seafarers’ Charity calls for increased support for the safety and welfare of women seafarers
A new research report released on International Women’s Day shines a spotlight on the welfare needs of women working on cargo ships. The Seafarers’ Charity, a significant funder of maritime welfare services, is now calling on its funded charities to consider increasing their support for women working at sea – especially those working in the male-dominated cargo sector.
6. Seafarers as collateral strike damage
Well done everyone, we survived covid. We faced down the challenges, threats, coughs and came out stronger. Yes, seafarers were locked down, they were forced to remain onboard for months (perhaps even years), and shore leave became synonymous with history, not the present or future. But no more surely? https://splash247.com/seafarers-as-collateral-strike-damage/
7. US federal government puts US Arctic Ocean off limits for future oil and gas leasing
Using his authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, President Biden is withdrawing approximately 2.8m acres of the Beaufort Sea in the Arctic Ocean nearshore in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) from future oil and gas leasing. This withdrawal ensures the waters will be protected in perpetuity from extractive development. https://splash247.com/us-federal-government-puts-us-arctic-ocean-off-limits-for-future-oil-and-gas-leasing/
8. Australia’s Submarine Program with U.S. and Britain Could Could Run Up to $245 Billion
Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program with the United States and Britain will cost up to A$368 billion ($245 billion) over the next three decades, a defense official said on Tuesday, the country’s biggest single defense project in history. U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday unveiled details of a plan to provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines, a major step to counter China’s naval build up in the Indo-Pacific. https://gcaptain.com/australias-submarine-program-with-u-s-and-britain-could-could-run-up-to-245-billion/
9. New Wind Rotor Technology Accelerator Coming to Former Avondale Shipyard Site
New Orleans-based Gulf Wind Technology (GWT) announced it has secured a $10 million investment from Shell to launch an offshore wind technology accelerator program at its headquarters at the former Avondale Shipyard site on the banks of the Mississippi River. Gulf Wind Technology is an offshore wind turbine technology specialist focussed on addressing challenging wind conditions in the Gulf of Mexico. https://gcaptain.com/new-wind-rotor-technology-accelerator-coming-to-former-avondale-shipyard-site/
10. Strong vessel demand drives Baltic index to over 11-week high
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, rose to an over 11-week high on Monday, propelled by stronger rates across all vessel segments. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, was up 41 points, or about 2.9%, at 1,465 – its highest since Dec. 23. The capesize index gained 77 points, or about 4.4%, to a more than 11-week high of 1,821. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Strong+vessel+demand+drives+Baltic+index+to+over+11-week+high