How the effort to resettle formerly enslaved Black Americans created Liberia...

posted on: Mar 3, 2025

The landscape looks like many places in the United States. Yellow school buses wend their way through streets with familiar names like Johnson and McDonald. There is a Masonic temple, structures that resemble those in the American South and even a flag – complete with a star and stripes — that resembles Old Glory. But this is not America. It’s Liberia, a small nation. Before the American Civil War, many formerly enslaved people and their descendants lived in the U.S. Some white religious groups believed these individuals could never be truly free in a segregated society, prompting them to support a movement for expatriating free Black people. In 1816, the American Colonization Society, or ACS, was formed to pursue this goal. “They aimed to form a colony in Africa and to have free Blacks who chose to go to leave and go to Liberia,” C. Patrick Burrowes, Historian of...

InterManager Asks IMO to Send the Bill for Carbon Costs to Shipowners...

posted on: Mar 2, 2025

As the IMO closes in on global regulations for shipping’s carbon emissions, professional shipmanagement firms are concerned that the language could have unintended effects on third-party managers.  According to industry organization InterManager, the current proposed text that will be reviewed at MEPC83 improperly accounts for the role of shipmanagement firms. About 20 percent of all merchant ships have a third-party ISM manager – not the owner, nor the commercial manager, but purely a technical manager. Since a third-party manager has no say in the commercial operations of the ship, nor in its construction or bunker fuel selection, it should not be held legally responsible for the ship’s emissions, according to InterManager.  “In comparison to the charterer and shipowner, the ship manager has no material influence over the GHG intensity of a ship. Ship managers have no say regarding the type of engine powering the managed ship, nor whether sails,...

Salvors struggle to refloat MSC boxship off Newfoundland...

posted on: Mar 2, 2025

Thirteen days on from its grounding off Newfoundland, salvors are struggling to work out how to remove the MSC Baltic III from the icy, stormy shoreline near Lark Harbour.  With reports emerging of a hull breach, and the ship carrying 1,710 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, local media is reporting the authorities are looking at repairing an old road to access the remote site and give salvors another option to remove cargoes in a bid to get the wedged ship afloat. The MSC Baltic III lost power outside the entrance of Bay of Islands, the crew issuing a mayday, with the 22-year-old ship running aground in Wild Cove west of Lark Harbour. The crew were successfully airlifted off the ship.  source :...

First images of Israeli ship seized by Iran released...

posted on: Mar 2, 2025

The following video footage shows the national Iranian TV reporter next to Israeli ship seized by the Iranian naval forces in the Strait of Hormuz last spring.  The container ship MSC ARIES was seized by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on April 13, 2024, and today, for the first time, images of it were released by official Iranian media. Earlier on Saturday, the IRGC Navy Commander Admiral Alireza Tangsiri was quoted as saying by the local Iranian media that, “Wherever in the world they attack and seize our vessels and ships, we will seize their vessels, as has been the case to date.” source :...

Crewmember Requires Medical Evacuation as Ships are Robbed off Singapore...

posted on: Mar 2, 2025

Authorities in Singapore responded to an “unauthorized boarding” of a chemical tanker in the Singapore Strait friday morning, February 28, and evacuated an injured crewmember. It was the latest in a spike of crimes along the Singapore Strait, but the first this year when a crewmember required medical attention. Later ReCAAP ISC reported there had been two other incidents earlier on Friday with the group warning of a possibility of more assaults on ships. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Singapore Civil Defense Force reported that the Singapore-registered chemical tanker Basset (49,875 dwt) was boarded in the early morning hours of Friday, February 28. The incident happened at 0650 local time while the vessel was underway approximately 2 nautical miles outside Singapore’s territorial waters. The vessel’s AIS signal showed it had departed Tanjung Pelepas, to the west of Singapore in Malaysia, and was transiting the Strait to Pengerang in Malaysia east...

‘চট্টগ্রাম বন্দরে ১০ হাজার কনটেইনার’: দ্রুত নিলামে সশস্ত্র বাহিনীর সহায়তা চায় কর্তৃপক্ষ...

posted on: Mar 1, 2025

বিদ্যমান বিধিমালা অনুযায়ী নিলাম প্রক্রিয়ায় বিলম্বের কারণে বন্দর ইয়ার্ডে বর্তমানে পড়ে থাকা ১০ হাজার কনটেইনার নিলাম ত্বরান্বিত করতে সশস্ত্র বাহিনীর সহায়তা চেয়েছে চট্টগ্রাম বন্দর কর্তৃপক্ষ। আজ দুপুরে শহীদ ফজলুর রহমান মুন্সী মিলনায়তনে এক মতবিনিময় সভায় এ তথ্য জানান চট্টগ্রাম বন্দর কর্তৃপক্ষের চেয়ারম্যান রিয়ার এডমিরাল এস এম মনিরুজ্জামান। এসব কনটেইনার পরীক্ষা ত্বরান্বিত করতে তিন বাহিনী থেকে জুনিয়র কমিশন্ড অফিসার (জেসিও) পর্যায়ের কর্মকর্তাদের মোতায়েনের প্রয়োজনীয় ব্যবস্থা নিতে নৌপরিবহন মন্ত্রণালয়কে অনুরোধ করা হয়েছে। সাংবাদিকদের উদ্দেশে বন্দর চেয়ারম্যান  কৃত্রিম দ্রব্য সংকটের বিরুদ্ধে সতর্ক থাকার আহ্বান জানিয়ে বলেন, রমজানের নিত্যপ্রয়োজনীয় পণ্য আমদানির বিষয়ে আমাদের কাছে পর্যাপ্ত তথ্য রয়েছে। কোন অসাধু ব্যবসায়ী যাতে কৃত্রিম সংকট সৃষ্টি করতে না পারে সেজন্য বাজার মনিটরিং করুন। বন্দরের ভেতরে ও বাইরে যেন কোনো ভিড় তৈরি না হয় সেজন্য আমরা কাজ করছি। আমদানিকারকরা যাতে কৃত্রিম সংকট সৃষ্টি করতে না পারে সেজন্য মাদার ভেসেল থেকে মালামাল লোডিংয়ের ৭২ ঘণ্টার মধ্যে লাইটার জাহাজগুলোকে বন্দর সীমা ত্যাগ করার নির্দেশনাও দিয়েছে বন্দর কর্তৃপক্ষ। যাতায়াত...

Bulgarian Bulker Saves 34 Fishermen From Burning Boat in the Indian Ocean...

posted on: Mar 1, 2025

A Bulgarian bulker has rescued 34 fishermen from a burning vessel off the coast of Sri Lanka, according to the shipowner.  Eleen Armonia, a 2008-built bulker owned by Eleen Marine, was under way from Singapore to the Cape of Good Hope when the crew spotted smoke from a burning vessel at a position about 500 nautical miles to the south of Sri Lanka. The small vessel had no AIS identification, and did not have a strong radar return.  The captain of Eleen Armonia diverted to assist. In a long series of evolutions, the crew of the bulker rescued all 34 Indonesian nationals aboard the fishing vessel, identified as the Hasil Abadi 28. The fire was extinguished, though the vessel is likely a total loss; no injuries were reported.  Eleen Marine contacted the owner of the fishing vessel and learned that the firm had several other vessels in its fleet...

The death of scheduled maintenance

posted on: Mar 1, 2025

Screenshot Joy Basu, CEO of Smart Ship Hub, on why shipping needs to think predictive and not scheduled when it comes to looking after vessels.  The transition to predictive maintenance is not just an upgrade it is the future of shipping as companies in their droves adopt technical innovations to ensure the best possible standard of care and quality of life for vessels. Scheduled maintenance has long been the standard in the shipping industry, where equipment and vessel components are serviced based on predefined intervals. However, this approach is increasingly outdated in the face of modern predictive maintenance technologies, which use data-driven insights to optimise maintenance schedules.  The industry is already seeing a shift toward predictive maintenance with advancements in digital twin technology, AI-driven analytics, and cloud-based fleet management. Companies that embrace these innovations will gain a competitive edge, reduce operational risks, and enhance profitability. By monitoring engine performance,...

One crew member injured after ‘unauthorised boarding’ of vessel in Singapore Strait: MPA...

posted on: Mar 1, 2025

Gabrielle Andres SINGAPORE – One crew member of a Singapore-registered chemical tanker was injured after an “unauthorised boarding” incident was reported in the Singapore Strait on the morning of Feb 28. According to the police, the injured crew member is a 29-year-old Indian national, who was conscious when taken to hospital for medical treatment. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said it was alerted to the unauthorised boarding of the Basset that took place at about 7am outside Singapore territorial waters. There are no Singaporean crew on board, MPA said, adding that all the crew are accounted for. “Safety of navigation along the Singapore Strait is not affected,” it said. The authority had issued safety broadcasts to vessels, telling them to maintain a vigilant watch. The Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were activated to assist the tanker’s crew on the...

Maersk explores ship recycling in Egypt

posted on: Mar 1, 2025

Sam Chambers Maersk has signed a memorandum of understanding in Egypt to explore green ship recycling in the Middle Eastern nation as part of the government’s bid to be less reliant on imported scrap metal. The planned demolition yard will be created at Damietta port to the west of Port Said on the Mediterranean and will be compliant with the incoming Hong Kong Convention on improved ship recycling conditions.  The Egyptian site will cover some 155,000 sq m and will be capable of handling ships of up to 230 m in length. Other Egyptian ship recycling sites are also being discussed. Maersk has a history of helping nations develop greener ship recycling sites. For instance, when it took over P&O Nedlloyd 20 years ago, it took on the responsibility of developing what was then China’s leading demo yard.  source :...

রমজানে আর্টিফিশিয়াল সংকট সৃষ্টি করতে দিব নাঃ অ্যাডমিরাল এস এম মনিরুজ্জামান...

posted on: Feb 28, 2025

বন্দর চেয়ারম্যান অ্যাডমিরাল এস এম মনিরুজ্জামান বলেন, “বাজারে টাইমলি এই কার্গোগুলো পৌঁছাচ্ছে না। যার ফলে বাজারে একটা আর্টিফিশিয়াল সংকট সৃষ্টি হয়। আর্টিফিশিয়াল সংকট সৃষ্টি হলে জিনিসপত্রের দাম বেড়ে যায় এবং ভোক্তার উপর এটার একটা নেতিবাচক প্রভাব পড়ে। এটা আমরা এটলিস্ট করতে দিব না।”  আমদানি পণ্যবাহী কোনো জাহাজ ৭২ ঘণ্টার বেশি চট্টগ্রাম বন্দরে থাকতে পারবে না। এ নির্দেশনা জারি করেছে বন্দর কর্তৃপক্ষ। রমজানে ভোগ্যপণ্যের কৃত্রিম সংকট সৃষ্টি এবং কৌশলে মূল্যবৃদ্ধি ঠেকাতে এই ব্যবস্থা। কোনভাবেই পণ্য সরবরাহ বিঘ্নিত করতে দেয়া হবে না বলে জানান বন্দর চেয়ারম্যান। চট্টগ্রাম বন্দরের বহির্নগঙ্গরে মাদার ফেসেল থেকে পণ্য বোঝাই করার পরও লাইটার জাহাজগুলো দিনের পর দিন সেখানেই অবস্থান করছিল। বন্দর কর্তৃপক্ষ এক প্রেস বিজ্ঞপ্তিতে জানায়,পণ্য দ্রুত সরবরাহ না করে কৃত্রিম সংকট সৃষ্টি করে মূল্য বৃদ্ধির চেষ্টা রাষ্ট্র ও জনস্বার্থ বিরোধী। এ অবস্থায় রমজানে নিত্যপণ্যের সাপ্লাই চেইন ও বাজারে দ্রব্যমূল্য স্থিতিশীল রাখতে আমদানি পণ্য বোঝায় লাইটার জাহাজকে ৭২ ঘন্টার মধ্যে বন্দর সীমানা ছাড়তে নির্দেশনা জারি করেছে কর্তৃপক্ষ।...

posted on: Feb 28, 2025

‘Losing hope with every day that passes’: torment of the ships’ crews abandoned at sea ‘Losing hope with every day that passes’: torment of the ships’ crews abandoned at sea When Vihaan* set off from his home in Tamil Nadu, south India, to work on a vessel crossing the Bay of Bengal into neighbouring Bangladesh, he told his family he would be gone a few months. After delivering his cargo of stone to Bangladesh’s Kutubdia Island, the marine engineer was due to head home in March 2024 to disembark at Thoothukudi port, India. But that month, the rusting tug, the Navimar 3, which was being operated by Middle East Marine (MEM), was detained by the authorities in Bangladesh due to unpaid fees. For almost a year, Vihaan has become a virtual prisoner on board, he says, forced to work without pay to keep the vessel safe, amid strong currents...