US

US eases offshore safety rules enacted after Deepwater Horizon

In line with overall efforts to boost the national energy sector, US Trump administration eased safety rules on offshore oil and gas production put in place on the aftermath of the deadly 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon disaster.

Namely, the US Department of the Interior revised the 2016 well control rule, also known as the oil and gas production safety system rule, which the Obama administration enacted after the disaster that killed 11 people, caused the worst environmental disaster in US history...

https://safety4sea.com/us-eases-offshore-safety-rules-enacted-after-deepwater-horizon/

Fisherman accused of murder onboard fishing vessel

A Mexican national was arrested and charged on September 24, in federal court in Boston in connection with the murder of an individual aboard a fishing vessel off the coast of Massachusetts.

Franklin Freddy Meave Vazquez, 27, was charged with one count of murder within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the US, and one count of attempted murder within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the US. He will appear in federal court in Boston.

According to the charging...

https://safety4sea.com/fisherman-accused-of-murder-onboard-fishing-vessel/

US, South Korea sign new trade deal

US President Donald Trump signed a revised free trade agreement with South Korea on September 24 in New York. This is the first bilateral trade deal of his administration and includes steps to open up the Korean market to more American exports.

The US – Korea Trade Agreement aims to open the Korean market to increased American exports, mainly automobiles. It will also allow the US to impose a 25% tariff on Korean trucks until 2041.

According to analysts, the agreement contains some provisions...

https://safety4sea.com/us-south-korea-sign-new-trade-deal/

Oil prices could increase due to Iranian sanctions

According to JPMorgan, oil prices could increase this winter, due to the US sanctions on Iran. Namely, JPMorgan expects the price of a barrel of oil to increase from $60 to $85 a barrel in the next six months, while a ‘pike’ to $90 is also on the table.

When the US withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, the sanctions regarded crude oil exports, as well. These sanctions will become effective on November 4.

Oil prices could increase from November, as JPMorgan expects the price of a barrel of oil to...

https://safety4sea.com/oil-prices-could-increase-due-to-iranian-sanctions/

US sets new record in crude oil production, report says

The American Petroleum Institute (API) released its industry outlook for the third quarter of 2018. The report shows the US achieved another new record for crude oil production of 10.8 million barrels per day (MBD) over the past two months. However, US petroleum exports decreased by 1.3 million barrels per day since June.

Overall, US’s petroleum trade balance went from net imports of 2.9 MBD in June to 4.54 MBD in August, which is a 56%  increase in two months.

Nevertheless, API Chief Economist...

https://safety4sea.com/us-sets-new-record-in-crude-oil-production-report-says/

OPEC: US oil output to increase, but demand for OPEC crude will reduce

OPEC expects a steady rise in US oil output, as it will gain momentum in the next five years. OPEC also expects the demand for its crude to reduce, in spite of an increasing appetite for energy driven by global economic expansion.

The reduction in demand for OPEC crude is due to a strong non-OPEC supply in the 2017–2023 period, OPEC notes. The US is still the most important source of medium-term supply growth, contributing to two-thirds of new supply.

In addition, according to Reuters, the US has...

https://safety4sea.com/opec-us-oil-output-to-increase-but-demand-for-opec-crude-will-reduce/

US reveals strategy to improve cyber security

US’s President Donald Trump signed America’s National Cyber Strategy. This strategy states that it will use all available means to keep America safe from cyber threats, while it mentions that cyber security in the maritime sector is of particular concern.

Mr. Trump said that the costs of malicious cyber activity cannot be ignored.

Guided by this National Cyber Strategy, the Federal Government will be better equipped to protect the American people, the American homeland, and the American way of...

https://safety4sea.com/us-reveals-strategy-to-improve-cyber-security/

Port of Savannah plans 8 million TEU capacity by 2028

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) revealed its 10-year, which will cost $2.5 billion, to expand the capacity of Savannah’s Port container terminal from 5.5 million twenty-foot equivalent unit containers (TEUs) to 8 million.

The plan includes the Mason Mega Rail facility, which will double the Port of Savannah’s rail capacity to 1 million lifts per year by 2020; new equipment, including eight additional ship-to-shore cranes and 64 additional rubber-tired gantry cranes; gate and container storage...

https://safety4sea.com/port-of-savannah-plans-8-million-teu-capacity-by-2028/

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