Guinea: new threat for vessels loading bauxite

Budd Guinea, part of the international marine services and Correspondent group Budd, has said that in recent months it had observed a hardening in the attitude of the Ministry of Mines and Geology (MMG) personnel, who carry out mandatory draft surveys on board vessels loading bauxite. Budd noted that the MMG was now threatening to…

Zara owner warns of one-week delays due to Red Sea crisis

Inditex, the owner of Zara, has said that average shipping times had been delayed by about a week because of the current situation in the Red Sea, with container ships carrying its products diverting via the Cape of Good Hope. Inditex said in its annual report, published on Thursday March 14th, that “shipping costs may…

EU ombudsman criticizes handling of 2023 migrant boat tragedy

The European Union’s Ombudsman has criticized the handling of the 2023 migrant boat tragedy in the Mediterranean, during which more than 600 people are thought to have drowned. In a just-published report it has also questioned fundamental issues related to the operations of Frontex, the EU’s Border and Coast Guard agency. The report said that…

US compliance note details obligations of non-US persons re sanctions

The US Department of Commerce, Department of the Treasury and Department of Justice has issued a Tri-Seal Compliance Note highlighting the need for foreign-based (non-US) persons to abide by the US sanctions and export control laws, reports American Club. It encouraged members to review the Compliance Note, which is at: https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/932746/download?inline The Compliance Note, released…

NorthStandard partners with Orca AI

NorthStandard and Orca AI have entered an exclusive partnership which will see NorthStandard encourage its members to adopt Orca AI’s market-leading automated situational awareness solution. After successful testing, insurer NorthStandard has decided to subsidize the use of AI-driven collision avoidance aboard its customers’ ships. Under a new program, it will help pay for installation and…

Opportunities lost in Africa from Red Sea traffic diversions

Inefficient and aging ports in South Africa and some other African nations have meant that what could have been a golden opportunity as a result of a large number of ships diverting away from Suez and around the Cape of Good Hope, could be squandered, reports Bloomberg. The number of vessels sailing around the southern…

Danish Shipping adopts policy on underwater radiated noise

Danish Shipping has recommended its members follow a new set of IMO guidelines aiming to reduce underwater radiated noise and preserve marine biodiversity. The group said that commercial shipping was one of the main contributors to underwater radiated noise, which had adverse effects on a wide range of marine life, including whales and fish. In…

Houthis extend target area

Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen’s Houthis, said on Thursday March 14th that the group would extend the range of its shipping targets to include Israel-linked ships passing through the Indian Ocean towards the Cape of Good Hope. “Our main battle is to prevent ships linked to the Israeli enemy from passing through not…

West African internet hit by damage to subsea communication cables

Marine industry service provider and P&I correspondent Budd Group has reported that, beginning Thursday March 14th, large swathes of West Africa had been experiencing a major internet outage. Damage was reported to four out of five critical submarine cables. The disruption hit Ivory Coast, Liberia, Benin, Burkina Faso and elsewhere. It began on Thursday March…

Sanctioned tanker NS Century reaches China port to discharge Russian oil

Crude oil tanker NS Century (IMO 9306782) arrived at Qingdao Port, China, late on Thursday March 14th to discharge a cargo of Russian crude oil, LSEG shipping data showed. The vessel is subject to US sanctions, being operated by Russian shipping group Sovcomflot’s (SCF) Dubai-based subsidiary SCF MGMT. The vessel was carrying about 700,000 barrels…