1. Further draft and transit improvements at the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has announced another increase in draft and daily transits. The maximum authorised draft was raised by another 30 cm yesterday to 14.3 m, and will increase to 14.63 m on July 11. Additionally, a new booking slot for the neopanamax locks will be added beginning on August 5, bringing the total number of transits to 35 ships per day.
https://splash247.com/further-draft-and-transit-improvements-at-the-panama-canal/
https://splash247.com/further-draft-and-transit-improvements-at-the-panama-canal/
2. Shipping must look to the skies for solutions. For far too long, the maritime industry has dragged its feet, falling behind in the race for technological advancement. While other sectors surge ahead, maritime remains anchored in outdated practices. But change is on the horizon, and it’s coming from aviation technology powerhouse SITA. With 75 years of expertise, SITA is poised to revolutionise maritime operations, but is this transformation too good to be true?
https://splash247.com/shipping-must-look-to-the-skies-for-solutions/
https://splash247.com/shipping-must-look-to-the-skies-for-solutions/
3. Belships beefs up ultramax fleet with newbuild and secondhand deals. Norwegian bulker owner Belships is expanding its ultramax fleet with the acquisition of modern Japanese-built vessels and signing up for a pair of newbuildings. The Oslo-listed company said it had agreed to buy an unnamed 64,000 dwt vessel built in 2024 for $41m, with delivery set for the first quarter of 2025.
https://splash247.com/belships-beefs-up-ultramax-fleet-with-newbuild-and-secondhand-deals/
https://splash247.com/belships-beefs-up-ultramax-fleet-with-newbuild-and-secondhand-deals/
4. Transocean given one-year drillship extension. Offshore drilling contractor Transocean has won another one-year extension for the 2014-built ultra-deepwater drillship Deepwater Asgard in the US Gulf of Mexico. The company said that the program was expected to begin in direct continuation of the rig’s current program and is estimated to contribute approximately $188m in backlog, including additional services. The daily rate for the rig is around $515,000.
https://splash247.com/transocean-given-one-year-drillship-extension/
https://splash247.com/transocean-given-one-year-drillship-extension/
5. KVH inks bulk data Starlink capacity deal. Maritime connectivity specialist KVH Industries has expanded its relationship with Starlink through a bulk data distribution agreement. The new agreement offers KVH increased flexibility in the development and sales of custom, cost-effective airtime plans using Starlink’s mobile priority service.
https://splash247.com/kvh-inks-bulk-data-starlink-capacity-deal/
https://splash247.com/kvh-inks-bulk-data-starlink-capacity-deal/
6. Global Freight Rises But Shows Signs of Weakness in U.S. Global manufacturing activity and freight are showing signs of a recovery, after a downturn took hold in the second half of 2022 and lasted for most of 2023, which could support petroleum consumption and prices later in 2024.
https://gcaptain.com/global-freight-rises-but-shows-signs-of-weakness-in-u-s/
https://gcaptain.com/global-freight-rises-but-shows-signs-of-weakness-in-u-s/
7. SAS Achieves Key Milestone in Gram Car Carriers Acquisition. SAS Shipping Agencies Services Sàrl (SAS) has received acceptances for approximately 93.56% of Gram Car Carriers ASA’s (GCC) issued share capital, marking a significant step in its offer to acquire all outstanding shares of GCC.
https://gcaptain.com/sas-achieves-key-milestone-in-gram-car-carriers-acquisition/
https://gcaptain.com/sas-achieves-key-milestone-in-gram-car-carriers-acquisition/
8. Bigger Ships, Bigger Risks: Navigating the Challenges of Modern Maritime Safety. The tragic collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in the US after it was hit by the container ship Dali made headlines around the world. While such incidents of this magnitude are thankfully rare – there were just 35 major bridge collapses worldwide involving ships or barges between 1960 and 2015 – the fact that ships are getting bigger can make a number of different events more complicated when accidents do occur.
https://gcaptain.com/bigger-ships-bigger-risks-navigating-the-challenges-of-modern-maritime-safety/
https://gcaptain.com/bigger-ships-bigger-risks-navigating-the-challenges-of-modern-maritime-safety/
9. Panama Canal boosts ship depth, crossings at Neopanamax locks after rains. The Panama Canal authority said on Wednesday that recent rains boosted water levels, allowing heavier ships with larger cargo loads to transit the canal’s Neopanamax locks. The maximum ship depth for the key global waterway will be set at 47 feet (14.33 m) effective immediately, and on July 11, will deepen to 48 feet (14.63 m), the canal authority said in an advisory to clients.
https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Panama+Canal+boosts+ship+depth%2C+crossings+at+Neopanamax+locks+after+rains
https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Panama+Canal+boosts+ship+depth%2C+crossings+at+Neopanamax+locks+after+rains
10. Singapore port congestion shows global ripple impact of Red Sea attacks. Congestion at Singapore’s container port is at its worst since the COVID-19 pandemic, a sign of how prolonged vessel re-routing to avoid Red Sea attacks has disrupted global ocean shipping – with bottlenecks also appearing in other Asian and European ports.Retailers, manufacturers and other industries that rely on massive box ships are again battling surging rates, port backups and shortages of empty containers, even as many consumer-oriented firms look to build inventories heading into the peak year-end shopping season.
https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Singapore+port+congestion+shows+global+ripple+impact+of+Red+Sea+attacks
https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Singapore+port+congestion+shows+global+ripple+impact+of+Red+Sea+attacks
