US

US & UK Seek To Target Illicit Oil Shipping Transfers at Sea

Credits: Unsplash

The US, UK, Denmark and others have warned about the booming practice of unregulated ship-to-ship oil transfers at sea, which increase the risk oysterf pollution, reports Reuters.

“These transfers undermine the rules-based international order and increase the risk of pollution to nearby coastal States. This threatens global efforts to prevent pollution from ships,” the paper submitted to the UN said.

Unregulated ship-to-ship oil transfers

The paper was submitted to United Nations...

https://mfame.guru/us-uk-seek-to-target-illicit-oil-shipping-transfers-at-sea/

South Korea and US Boost Military Cooperation with Joint Maritime Exercise

Credit: Germannavyphotograph/Pexels

On April 24-27, the guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) of the Arleigh Burke class participated in a series of drills with the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy to improve interoperability between the two navies, as reported by Maritime Fairtrade.

Maritime Counter-Special Operations Exercise (MCSOFEX)

The Maritime Counter-Special Operations Exercise (MCSOFEX) involves defensive training, drills, and cooperation between the US and Republic of Korea (ROK)...

https://mfame.guru/south-korea-and-us-boost-military-cooperation-with-joint-maritime-exercise/

West Coast Woes: California’s Port Dominance Slipping as Cargo Shifts East

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This year, California has had a number of economic setbacks, including the closure of three regional banks and excessive rains that submerged agriculture. The $2.8 trillion freight business in the state is now in danger, as reported by GCaptian.

Shifting supply routes 

The pandemic caused the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports to become overwhelmed, leading to other ports like those in New York-New Jersey and Houston gaining market share. Factors such as labour talks, the...

https://mfame.guru/west-coast-woes-californias-port-dominance-slipping-as-cargo-shifts-east/

Global Bunker Demand Set To Grow As Seaborne Trade Recovers

Credits: SP Global

The outlook for 2023 is for higher global bunker fuel consumption on the back of longer expected sailing distances for vessels after sales at the key bunker hubs of Singapore and Fujairah fell in 2022, reports SP Global.

The first oil and gas auction

US Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 259, held at the end of March, was closely watched as the first oil and gas auction offered in that area since November 2021. And given that expectations weren’t too high, the auction actually turned...

https://mfame.guru/global-bunker-demand-set-to-grow-as-seaborne-trade-recovers/

The Critical U.S. Role In Resuming Iraq-Turkey Oil Trade

Credits: Zbynek Burival/Unsplash

The Urgent U.S. Role in Restarting Iraq-Turkey Oil Exports, states a Washington Institute news report.

Baghdad-Kurdistan breakthrough

A pipeline arbitration ruling has imperiled a recent Baghdad-Kurdistan breakthrough, but this roadblock can be removed if the United States acts urgently to disrupt spoilers and help constructive players.

On March 25, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris issued its long-awaited ruling on an arbitration brought in...

https://mfame.guru/the-critical-u-s-role-in-resuming-iraq-turkey-oil-trade/

First Woman Selected As Combined Maritime Forces’ Next Senior Enlisted Leader

Credits: Michael Afonso/Unsplash

On March 19, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) announced the selection of the first woman to serve as the senior enlisted leader for the 38-nation naval partnership led by the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) in Bahrain, reports Homeland Security.

The first woman to serve as the senior enlisted leader

NAVCENT Command Master Chief Celina Miller was selected as the next senior enlisted leader to replace U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Cortez Brown in...

https://mfame.guru/first-woman-selected-as-combined-maritime-forces-next-senior-enlisted-leader/

Saddam Hussein’s Yacht Is An Odd Draw

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Saddam Hussein’s former yacht is now an unlikely attraction, reveals a CNN news source.

Rusting wreck of a yacht

Capsized in a river in southern Iraq, the rusting wreck of a yacht that belonged to Saddam Hussein serves as a stark reminder of his iron-fisted rule that ended with the US-led invasion two decades ago.

The 121-meter (396 ft) “al-Mansur,” a symbol of Saddam’s wealth and power when it was built in the 1980s, is today a destination for sightseers and...

https://mfame.guru/saddam-husseins-yacht-is-an-odd-draw/

Battle in the Pacific: A Detailed Look Into Logistics Winning Wars

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Prioritizing logistics at sea in the Pacific theatre was a bold and urgent request made this week by the commandant of the United States Marine Corps. Yet, it’s alarming that the rest of the US Military has neglected the now-skeletal remains of the US Merchant Navy while placing an excessive focus on air logistics. It’s time to evaluate our Pacific logistics capabilities realistically and to look for new prospects. This piece examines military logistics in depth...

https://mfame.guru/battle-in-the-pacific-a-detailed-look-into-logistics-winning-wars/

Further Penalties Against Russia From The US

Credit: Muhammad Zaqy Al Fattah/Unsplash

The US Department of State and the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on numerous additional people, entities, and vessels that the US has determined are engaged in sanctions evasion on February 24, 2023, the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Financial Services Sanctions

OFAC has designated over a dozen Russian banks and financial institutions which include:

  • Credit Bank of Moscow Public...

https://mfame.guru/further-penalties-against-russia-from-the-us/

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