Industry News

Ramsgate Port will not be ready to handle the extra ferries if the UK leaves the European Union (EU) without a deal, according to Thanet district councillor Beverly Martin.

Thanet Council currently owns Ramsgate Port, which stopped operating regular ferry services in 2013.

Despite owning no ships, Seaborne Freight secured a £13.8m contract from the UK Government to provide freight services between Ramsgate and Ostend if a no-deal Brexit occurs.

However, the harbour is not equipped with...

https://www.ship-technology.com/news/port-of-ramsgate-brexit/

A report from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has revealed that an inadequate preventative maintenance programme and lack of guidance for addressing high-temperature engine conditions have resulted in a fire on-board the passenger vessel Island Lady.

The incident took place on 14 January when the vessel was travelling in Pithlachascotee River, near Port Ritchey, Florida, US.

At the time of the incident, the 72ft-long vessel was carrying 36 passengers, four crew, two...

https://www.ship-technology.com/news/ntsb-fire-island-lady/

A new roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) container barge port terminal has been opened in Barangay Capipisa East, Tanza, Philippines, in order to ease congestion on road and at the Port of Manila.

Developed with an investment of PHP1.5bn ($29m), the new Cavite Gateway Terminal (CGT) is the first and only container barge terminal in the Philippines.

A collaboration of International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) and Philippines’ Department of Transportation (DOTr) has built the terminal.

Inaugurating...

https://www.ship-technology.com/news/port-terminal-inaugurated-philippines/

A Europe-wide consortium has launched the project ‘Futureproof Skills for the Maritime transport sector (SkillSea)’ to address the issue of future skills requirements of the maritime industry.

The four-year project will be co-financed by the European Commission and will begin in January.

The consortium is established by the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF). It is led by the Rotterdam-based STC Group.

The consortium includes 27...

https://www.ship-technology.com/news/etf-consortium-launches-project-to-meet-future-skills-needs-of-maritime-sector/

The US has granted an exemption from certain sanctions to India for the development of the Chabahar Port in Iran, and will also build a railway line to connect the port with Afghanistan.

India’s Shipping Ministry expects to start operations at the port by the end of this month.

The US exemptions end months of speculation over the fate of the port, which is funded by India.

Citing an unnamed official, The Hindu Business Line reported that the waiver has also re-opened the chances of paying the...

https://www.ship-technology.com/news/us-exempts-india-chabahar-port/

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted an action plan to improve current regulations and roll out new measures to reduce marine plastic litter generated by ships.

The plan has identified a number of measures to achieve its goal, including a planned study on marine plastic litter from ships, exploration of port reception facility availability and adequacy, and encouraging the reporting of fishing gear loss.

It also aims to strengthen international cooperation, particularly the...

https://www.ship-technology.com/news/imo-adopts-action-plan/

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted a complementary amendment to support consistent implementation of its upcoming 0.50% limit on sulphur in ship fuel oil.

To be executed under IMO’s MARPOL treaty, the regulation on 0.50% sulphur fuel limit is expected to come into force on 1 January 2020.

The regulation mandates ships across the globe to use fuels with 0.50% sulphur content, compared to the current 3.50%.

IMO’s newly adopted amendment aims to ban the carriage of...

https://www.ship-technology.com/news/imo-adopts-amendment-to-support-implementation-of-2020-sulphur-cap/

Security guards on-board the Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier, MV KSL Sydney, foiled an attack by pirates when the ship was sailing off the east coast of Somalia, according to European Union Naval Force (EUNAVOR).

The pirates approached and opened fire at MV KSL Sydney 340 nautical miles off Somalia, engaging in a gun battle with the Armed Security Team (PAST) on-board the vessel.

According to EU EUNAVOR, the vessel’s Master employed the best management practices (BMP) protection measures, which...

https://www.ship-technology.com/news/hong-kong-flagged-bulk-carrier-averts-pirate-attack-off-somalia-coast/