International Report – Pacific Maritime Magazine

Global Piracy Hits Lowest Level in Decades: IMB

The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) in mid-January called for efforts to be sustained worldwide as maritime piracy and armed robbery attacks reached their lowest recorded level in almost three decades. The ICC IMB’s annual report recorded 115 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in 2022—compared to 132 in 2021—with half of them occurring in Southeast Asian waters, particularly in the Singapore Straits, where incidents continue to rise. Perpetrators were successful in gaining access to vessels in 95% of the reported incidents broken down as 107 vessels boarded, two vessels hijacked, five attempted attacks and one vessel fired…

Container Vessel Catches Fire While Transiting Panama Canal

A containership transiting the Panama Canal in late January caught on fire, the Panama Canal Authority confirmed Jan. 30. The container vessel Cape Kortia, while moving toward the PSA port in the Pacific, reported a fire outbreak in the engine room, the Authority reported. “Due to this incident another vessel was affected,” the Authority said in a statement. “The Cape Kortia remained briefly on its way to the Pacific Access Channel until it (was) removed by the Panama Canal staff.” “These maneuvers occurred during its regular transit window and did not cause delays to vessels transiting the Panama Canal,” the…

Billion-Dollar Chinese-Owned Seaport Opens in Lagos

In late January, Nigeria opened the new Lekki Deep Sea Port, a billion-dollar Chinese-built port in Lagos, which is expected to ease container traffic congestion and become an African hub for handling cargoes in transit to destinations around the world. The port is 75% owned by the China Harbour Engineering Co. and consumer goods company Tolaram Group. The remaining 25% is shared between the Lagos state government and the Nigerian Ports Authority. While addressing the media during the official commissioning of Lekki Port by Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari on Jan. 23, Du Ruogang, the managing director of port promoter Lekki…

Maersk Discontinuing 2M Alliance, Partnering with DP World

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) and Maersk A/S, a subsidiary of Danish shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk have mutually agreed to terminate their 2M shipping alliance effective January 2025, the companies announced in late January. 2M is a container shipping line vessel sharing agreement that was introduced in 2015 by Maersk and MSC with the aim of ensuring competitive and cost-efficient operations on the Asia-Europe, Transatlantic and Transpacific trades. The agreement has a minimum term of 10 years with a two-year notice period of termination. “MSC and Maersk recognize that much has changed since the two companies signed the 10-year agreement…

Draft Guidelines for Reduction of Underwater Noise from Commercial Ships Approved

Draft guidelines for the reduction of underwater noise from commercial shipping to address adverse impacts on marine life were agreed to by the International Maritime Organization’s Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction during its Jan. 23-27 meeting. The draft guidelines recognize that commercial shipping is one of the main contributors to underwater radiated noise (URN) which has adverse effects on critical life functions for a wide range of marine life, including marine mammals, fish and invertebrate species, upon which many coastal Indigenous communities depend for their food, livelihoods and cultures. The draft revised guidelines provide an overview of approaches applicable…

Atlas Corp. Being Acquired by Poseidon Acquisition Corp.

Atlas Corp., the London-based owner of Seaspan Corp. and APR Energy is being bought, the company announced in early November. Atlas has a deal to be purchased by Poseidon Acquisition Corp., an entity formed by certain affiliates of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., certain affiliates of the Washington Family of companies, David Sokol, Chairman of the Board of Atlas, and Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd. On Nov. 1, it was announced that the various parties have entered into an agreement under which Poseidon will acquire Atlas in an all-cash transaction for an enterprise value of about $10.9 billion. Under the terms…

Svanehøj Tank Control Systems Secures Order for Chinese LNG Import Terminal

One of the largest EPCI (Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation) contractors for the offshore oil and gas industry in the Asia Pacific region has chosen Svanehøj Tank Control Systems to implement tank gauging system to improve safety on six new LNG tanks of 220,000 m3. Svanehøj Tank Control Systems (STCS) in February 2023 is expected to deliver to Offshore Oil Engineering Co. (COOEC) a tank gauging system for six new LNG tanks for the Longkou Nanshan LNG Terminal currently under construction. “One consequence of increased global trade in LNG is an increased diversification of LNG supply sources,” (STCS) explained in…

Symposium on Global Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance Held

A symposium on Global Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance 2022 was held in Sanya, Hainan on Nov. 3-4. The symposium was co-sponsored by the China-Southeast Asia Research Center on the South China Sea, Huayang Research Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, China Ocean Development Foundation and National Institute for South China Sea Studies. Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered a video message stating that China stands ready to work with other countries to uphold the spirit of a maritime community of a shared future proposed…

Four Vessels and Crews Recognized for Bravery at Sea

The officers and crew of four American-flagged vessels were recognized for heroism at sea at the United Seamen’s Service’s 53rd annual Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) Award ceremony. The event was held Oct. 28 in Manhattan, NY. The Honored Seafarer AOTOS Mariners plaques went to: USNS Yuma (T-EPF 8), Military Sealift Command, Eastern Mediterranean Sea Sept. 1, 2022 A humanitarian disaster was averted and the life of an infant saved as the USNS Yuma was on routine operations when it received a call to assist. The ship headed to the scene where a Maltese tanker, the MT Nore, was…

CMA CGM Orders Biogas-Powered Ships to Serve French West Indies

During a recent trip to Martinique and Guadeloupe, CMA CGM Group Chairman and Chief Executive Ofﬁcer Rodolphe Saadé announced the rollout of seven new container ships powered by biogas to enhance and modernize services to the French West Indies. Set for delivery in 2024, the seven new container ships—four 7,300 TEU vessels and three 7,900 TEU vessels, each with 1,385 reefer plugs—will serve Guadeloupe and Martinique, significantly increasing services to the two islands, while also maintaining the same service standards, reliability and regularity, according to the French container shipping company. The vessels are slated to replace smaller ships that sail…