InterManager Daily News 18.04.2023.

1. US Department of Energy approves LNG project in Alaska. The US Department of Energy last week approved exports of liquefied natural gas from a facility planned for Alaska.
After conducting an environmental review, the federal government said the Alaska LNG project would provide economic and international security benefits. It also found that “protestors and commenters in opposition have failed to show that Alaska LNG’s proposed exports will be inconsistent with the public interest.” https://splash247.com/us-department-of-energy-approves-lng-project-in-alaska/
2. MOL pushes ahead with ammonia-fuelled gas carrier. Japanese shipowner Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and compatriot yards Tsuneishi Shipbuilding and Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding have delivered on the project launched last year to develop an ammonia-powered gas carrier. The 40,000 cu m ship, which can carry ammonia and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), has received approvals in principle (AiPs) from ClassNK and Lloyd’s Register. https://splash247.com/mol-pushes-ahead-with-ammonia-fuelled-gas-carrier/
3. BP starts oil production at Argos platform in Gulf of Mexico. BP has started oil production at its Argos offshore platform, the company’s fifth platform in the Gulf of Mexico and the first new BP-operated production facility in the region since 2008. The platform is located about 190 miles south of New Orleans in 4,500-foot-deep water. BP is the operator, with 60.5% working interest. Co-owners include Woodside Energy (23.9%) and Union Oil Company of California, an affiliate of Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (15.6%). https://splash247.com/bp-starts-oil-production-at-argos-platform-in-gulf-of-mexico/
4. Evalend in for suezmax pair. In the tanker sector, Clarksons Research is reporting South Korea’s Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries has won an order for two 158,000 dwt suezmaxes, placed by clients of Evalend Shipping and due for delivery in the first half of 2025, comparatively early delivery slots. The British broking giant reports Evalend is paying $86.26m per ship, which will come with scrubbers fitted. https://splash247.com/evalend-in-for-suezmax-pair/
5. South Korea, US, Japan To Hold Missile Defense Drills To Counter North Korea. South Korea, the United States and Japan will stage joint naval missile defense exercises on Monday as they push for greater security cooperation to better counter North Korea’s evolving missile threats, Seoul’s navy said. The announcement came days after the three countries agreed at their trilateral talks in Washington to conduct regular missile defense and anti-submarine exercises as part of efforts to scale up diplomatic and military cooperation. https://gcaptain.com/south-korea-us-japan-to-hold-missile-defense-drills-to-counter-north-korea/
6. Poland, Hungary Ban Grain And Food Imports From Ukraine. Poland and Hungary have decided to ban imports of grain and other food from neighbouring Ukraine to protect the local agricultural sector, the two governments said on Saturday, after a flood of supply depressed prices across the region.Ukraine expressed regret about the Polish decision, saying that “resolving various issues by unilateral drastic actions will not accelerate a positive resolution of the situation”. https://gcaptain.com/poland-hungary-ban-grain-and-food-imports-from-ukraine/
7. California Announces Solar-Powered Canal Project. California’s persistent water scarcity issues linger, even after an unusually wet winter. Governor Gavin Newsom has refrained from declaring an end to the drought, while President Biden’s recent proposal suggests further water cuts for the state. California’s pattern of extreme weather events underscores the ongoing importance of water conservation. https://gcaptain.com/california-announces-solar-powered-canal-project/
8. Hijacked Singapore-registered oil tanker recovered in Ivory Coast. A hijacked Singapore-registered oil tanker has been recovered and escorted to Abidjan port in Ivory Coast on Saturday, five days after it was captured by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea, the Ivorian military said.On Tuesday, Singapore’s port authority said the tanker had been boarded by “unidentified persons” about 300 nautical miles (555 km) off Ivory Coast with 20 crew of various nationalities aboard. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Hijacked+Singapore-registered+oil+tanker+recovered+in+Ivory+Coast
9. BIMCO has launched a campaign to accelerate the uptake of electronic bills of lading. BIMCO has launched the ‘25 by 25 pledge’, a commitment by some of the world’s biggest shippers in the bulk sector to target moving 25% of their annual seaborne trade volume for at least one commodity using electronic bills of lading by 2025. The pledge is part of an ongoing effort to accelerate trade digitalisation and streamline the supply chain process in the bulk sector.The use of electronic bills of lading (eBLs) increases efficiency, reduces costs and improves the overall transparency and security of trade. In contrast, paper bills of lading are inefficient, slow down trade and are vulnerable to fraud and human error. The use of paper bills therefore poses unnecessary legal and commercial risks, such as relying on letters of indemnity or getting lost in transit. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/BIMCO+has+launched+a+campaign+to+accelerate+the+uptake+of+electronic+bills+of+lading
10. Salalah Port listed as one of the most efficient in Middle East by World Bank. Salalah Port ranks as the second most efficient container port in the Middle East, according to the ‘Global Market Intelligence Container Port Performance Index’ by World Bank and S&P. The Index shows ports in the Middle East and East Asia responded best to the heavy volume growth and service volatility caused by impacts of the global pandemic. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Salalah+Port+listed+as+one+of+the+most+efficient+in+Middle+East+by+World+Bank