Caribbean Sea

MSC Cruises gets approval for new cruise terminal at PortMiami

MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately-owned cruise company, announced it has received approval from the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners for an innovative cruise terminal at PortMiami, as part of its expanding presence in North America and in the Caribbean.

As per the terms of the agreement, MSC Cruises will design, construct, operate and maintain a large building that hosts two cruise terminals (AA and AAA) as well as two berths.

MSC Cruises’ exclusive new PortMiami terminals will...

https://safety4sea.com/msc-cruises-gets-approval-for-new-cruise-terminal-at-portmiami/

The top 20 ports in Latin America and the Caribbean for 2018

Container throughput in ports of Latin America and the Caribbean increased by 7.7% in 2018 compared to 2017, according to data provided by the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). ECLAC updates every year its report of container port throughput, which shows the cargo volume in containers in the ports of the region, based on data obtained directly from port authorities and terminal operators. This analysis is based on the performance of a sampling of 31 countries...

https://safety4sea.com/the-top-20-ports-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean-for-2018/

OPEC crude production sees lowest level in 4 years

OPEC crude production fell by 240,000 b/d in February to 30.68 million b/d, its lowest level in 4 years, said Gibson Shipbrokers in its weekly tanker market report. The heavy crude market is already incredibly tight and production cuts come at a time when demand for heavy grades is rising, the report notes.

Middle East

A disappointing week for previously hopeful VLCC Owners, slow throughout as final March needs were merely dripfed into the marketplace, with full April programmes only in hand from...

https://safety4sea.com/opec-crude-production-sees-lowest-level-in-4-years/

USCG, Royal Navy partner to fight narcotics

The Royal Navy auxiliary RFA Mounts Bay has partnered with US Coast Guard counter-narcotics experts and a law enforcement boarding team on the continuous efforts to prevent illegal drugs from South and Central America reaching North America and the wider world, drugs which are typically smuggled across the Caribbean in small speedboats known as go-fasts.

Specifically, Mounts Bay supports UK’s long term naval presence in the Caribbean, dedicating its summer and autumn to disaster relief...

https://safety4sea.com/uscg-royal-navy-partner-to-fight-narcotics/

Mapping maritime piracy and armed robbery in parts of the world

Piracy and armed robbery in Asia decreased in 2018, says the latest ReCAAP ISC report. However, recognizing the challenge in other parts of the world too, particularly in in the West Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, there is still great need of law enforcement agencies to continue their effective ship protection measures and risk advisory services, to deter, minimize and prevent incidents from taking place.
  • 201 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships reported worldwide in...

https://safety4sea.com/cm-mapping-maritime-piracy-and-armed-robbery-in-parts-of-the-world/

Record cruise tourism expenditures reported in Latin America, Caribbean

A new study found that cruise tourism and the 29.6 million passenger and crew onshore visits in 36 Caribbean and Latin American destinations generated a record $3.36 billion in total expenditures during the last cruise year.

The Florida-Caribbean Association (FCCA) announced that the 2017-2018 cruise year brought record economic contributions to the region, despite the historic hurricane season.

According to the study released by Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA), cruise tourism...

https://safety4sea.com/record-cruise-tourism-expenditures-reported-in-latin-america-caribbean/

Caribbean maintains the preferred choice for cruises

Travel Leaders Group conducted a survey among 1,000 North American travel advisors, revealing that Scotland and the Netherlands moved up among the top five upcoming European destinations. As for the international cruise category, the Caribbean remained at the top spot, with Singapore increasing its popularity in the Asia/Southeast Asia category.

According to the survey, travel advisors are mostly booking trips of six to seven days, followed by eight to 10 days. Only 1.5% book trips of less than...

https://safety4sea.com/caribbean-maintains-the-preferred-choice-for-cruises/

USCG conducts counter drug operations in Eastern Pacific, Puerto Rico, Caribbean

USCG has conducted three operations in the Eastern Pacific, Puerto Rico and Caribbean, where it seized 1,300 pounds of cocaine, 2,324 pounds of cocaine and 3,516 pounds of cocaine along with 50 pounds of marijuana respectively.

For the firsts operation, US Coast Guard Cutter Alert returned after a 50-day counterdrug patrol to the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

The 75-member crew aboard ‘Alert’ conducted multiple law enforcement boardings in international waters off the coasts of Central and South...

https://safety4sea.com/uscg-conducts-counter-drug-operations-in-eastern-pacific-puerto-rico-caribbean/

PGS to use seismic vessel to clean oceans from plastic

Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS) launched a concept for collecting plastics at sea using seismic vessels. This project involves a single seismic vessel towing a boom and skirt arrangement with a bubble curtain that lifts plastic.

After conducting a feasibility study in 2018, PGS found that pelagic microplastic densities are too low for surface plastic collection to be efficient on the open ocean. However, densities may be higher in certain areas or during certain seasons, or during flush-out events.

N...

https://safety4sea.com/pgs-to-use-seismic-vessel-to-clean-oceans-from-plastic/

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