![[Another] Geopolitical Scrum set to Upend Shipping Routes](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w300h300c/copyright-lesniewskiadobestock-161031.jpeg)
Ships warned to avoid Red Sea, log Hormuz voyages after Israel hits IranMerchant shipping is continuing to pass through the Strait of Hormuz despite Israel's attacks on Iran on Friday, the multinational, U.S.-led Combined Maritime Force said, although some shipowners were looking to avoid the region.
The Scottish government is set to tender for a series of seven new electric ferries for the Clyde and Hebrides network.The first stage of the competitive tender process will assess if shipyards interested in bidding for the contract meet the financial and technical criteria to take on the project, Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), the government-owned entity that owns ferries, ports
UK-based bunker operator John H. Whitaker (Tankers) Limited secured chemical certification from Lloyd’s Register (LR) on behalf of the Isle of Man Flag Administration for its tanker Whitchampion to load, carry and blend Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME B100) onboard under IBC Code and MARPOL Annex II regulations.
A ceremony attended by dignitaries has marked the official ‘birth date’ for the two new ships which will serve the Penzance to Isles of Scilly route for the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group (ISSG).The keel laying is a milestone in the build process, recognized for centuries as the ‘birth’ of a new ship and an important point for the Scillonian IV passenger ferry and the cargo vessel, Menawethan.
Van Oord has installed over a quarter of the foundations which will support Sofia offshore wind farm’s 100 wind turbines in the North Sea since the start of operations in May.The Dutch contractor Van Oord is using the Port of Tyne’s Clean Energy Park as a storage and marshalling base, benefitting from direct access to its deep-water quay and connection to the North Sea.
One of the oldest ferries in the CalMac fleet will be retired later this year after almost four decades of operation, as the Scottish operator phases out older tonnage and modernizes its service with new vessels.The Hebridean Isles, built by Cochrane Shipbuilders in the mid-1980s, will retire in November, having served Scotland's west coast communities since her maiden voyage in December 1985.
The first sea trials for ferry MV Isle of Islay have been carried out successfully by Cemre Marin Endustri in Yalova, Turkey.The trials took place from Thursday 22nd May to Friday 30th May, in the Sea of Marmara, with staff from the Scottish government owned Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) in attendance.
Procurement is underway for two new freight flex vessels to serve the Aberdeen to Kirkwall/Lerwick Route.The new vessels will replace the Hellier and Hildasay, on the service operated by Serco NorthLink Ferries.The freight flex ferries will provide extra freight capacity and capability for quicker crossings on the routes.
HFW - with a global shipping practice comprised of more than 220 lawyers - strengthened its shipping practice by hiring Master Mariner Mike Bunton.Bunton has almost 20 years of shipping experience and joins HFW in London from the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency, where he was Head of Navigation.
At least five cargoes of LNG have diverted from Asia to Europe in the past few days, drawn by higher gas prices on the continent after Russia's Gazprom halted supplies to Austria's OMV, data from analytics firm Kpler showed.On Saturday Gazprom halted supplies to top Austrian gas importer OMV after OMV threatened to impound some of the Russian state firm's gas as compensation for an arbitration
The Maine Department of Transportation and Maine State Ferry Service commissioned the Charles Norman Shay ferry in Rockland on September 12.The 104-foot passenger/vehicle ferry, which will primarily serve Matinicus Isle, was designed by Gilbert Associates and built by Bayou la Batre, Ala. shipbuilder Steiner Shipyard. It has capacity to carry 149 passengers and seven cars.
Australia will assume command of the Combined Maritime Force’s Combined Task Force (CTF) 153 for six months from October.CTF 153 was established in April 2022 and focuses on international maritime security and capacity-building efforts in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden.