Brazil News

GAC Expands in South America

Growing demand for professional shipping services from the offshore oil & gas industry has prompted GAC to open an office in Uruguay. The new office continues 2018’s expansion of the Group’s Americas region with the opening of GAC Brazil’s office in Fortaleza, and the establishment of GAC Panama.Based in the key port of Montevideo, GAC Uruguay is well positioned to offer a full range of ship agency services nationwide, with particular focus on the growing offshore oil & gas and product tanker sectors.

First U.S. Crude Cargoes Head to China Since Trade Breakthrough

Three cargoes of U.S. crude are heading to China from the U.S. Gulf Coast, trade sources said on Monday, the first departures since late September and a 90-day pause in the two countries' trade war that began last month.The vessels left Galveston, Texas, last month and are scheduled to arrive at Chinese ports between late January and early March, according to shipbrokers and vessel tracking data. The shipments mark a change since Chinese buyers largely began avoiding U.S. oil during the trade dispute that flared last summer."It looks like China has resumed purchasing U.S.

Seacor Marine Acquires Three Fast Support Vessels

U.S. offshore vessel owner Seacor Marine  has acquired of three fast support vessels (FSVs) in exchange for the private placement of 603,872 shares of its common stock to domestic U.S. holders affiliated with the McCall family of Louisiana.The provider of global marine and support transportation services to offshore oil and natural gas and windfarm facilities worldwide has operated the acquired vessels for the past ten years under a revenue sharing pooling agreement along with four of its owned FSVs of similar specification.As part of the transaction, this pooling agreement was terminated.

US Oil Export Boom Sparks Battle to Build Texas Ports

Booming U.S. oil exports have set off a scramble to build Gulf Coast ports to handle more than 3 million barrels per day in new supplies expected over the next five years.Of seven proposed oil-export projects, nowhere is the opportunity greater or the competition more fierce than in Corpus Christi, Texas, where three firms are vying to open the state's first deepwater port.Commodities trader Trafigura has taken an early lead with a planned offshore facility that has an easier…

Chabahar Port Begins Commercial Operations

Commercial operations began at ndia Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone (IPGCFZ), at Chabahar with the arrival of a vessel after Government of India took over the operations.A Cyprus registered bulk carrier had arrived at Chabahar with 72458 MT of corn cargo. The vessel MV MACHERAS berthed at the terminal at 0130 hrs on 30th December 2018. Thus IPGCFZ carried out its first cargo operation by discharging the imported cargo(ex Brazil) using pneumatic un-loaders.India has written a history with its engagement in Chabahar, claimed a governement release.

PSA, ONE Launch Container Terminal in Singapore

The global transport company Ocean Network Express (ONE) and PSA Singapore (PSA),the flagship terminal of the global port group PSA International, will join hands to form a joint venture  company  based at Pasir  Panjang Terminal in Singapore.Subject to regulatory approvals, the joint venture terminal is scheduled to commence operations in the first half of 2019 and operate four mega container berths with a combined annual handling  capacity of 4 million TEUs, said a press release from the global container shipping company headquartered in Singapore.Pasir Panjang Terminal…

U.S. Ports, Seaway Shipping Reporting Strong Finish to 2018 Season

The St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes ports are reporting strong growth in November cargo volumes that is expected to carry through in the final weeks of the 2018 season. Overall cargo volumes through the St. Lawrence Seaway from March 29 to November 30 topped 36 million metric tons, up 5.3 per cent over the same period in 2017. Grain exports and road salt were highlights of activity in November. Seaway salt shipments are ahead of last year’s volumes, totaling 2.2 million metric tons up to the end of November.Year-to-date U.S.

Brazil’s Itaqui Port and Panama Canal Sign MOU

The Panama Canal has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Port of Itaqui to promote the shipment of grains and other cargoes in the commercial route from Brazil through the Panama Canal to destinations located in the Pacific Ocean.Itaqui, located in São Luís, Maranhão, is the Brazilian port closest to the Panama Canal. It  has the infrastructure and connectivity necessary to move these exports to markets in Asia."With this agreement, the Panama Canal looks to promote…

Kalmar Books Order for 30 Ottawa Terminal Tractors

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has secured an order to supply a total of 30 Kalmar Ottawa T2 Terminal Tractors to the Tecon Santos container terminal in Brazil, operated by Santos Brasil Participações S.A. The order was booked in Cargotec's third quarter 2018 order intake, with delivery of the machines scheduled to take place through the first quarter of 2019.Tecon Santos is located in the largest port in Latin America and is one of Brazil's leading logistic company and biggest container terminal.

Panama Canal Signs Deal with Port of Itaqui

The Panama Canal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Port of Itaqui, located in the northeastern region of Brazil, to promote the shipment of grains and other cargoes in the commercial route between the north of Brazil through the Panama Canal to destinations located in the Pacific Ocean.The Port of Itaqui, located in São Luís, Maranhão, is the Brazilian port closest to the Panama Canal and has the infrastructure and connectivity necessary to move these exports to markets in Asia.

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard Delivers World's First iVLOC

The world’s first intelligent very large ore carrier (iVLOC), the DNV GL-classed Pacific Vision, was delivered by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard to China Merchants Energy Shipping Company.Norway-headquartered international accredited registrar and classification society said in a statement that the vessel is the world’s first VLOC to implement DNV GL’s SmartShip descriptive notation.To qualify for the notation, Pacific Vision has been outfitted with an integration platform, a smart navigation decision support system…

Port of Hamburg: Railborne transport up 4.3%

In the first nine months of the year, the Port of Hamburg transferred substantially more freight on to rail - Seaborne cargo handling was below the previous year’s level, owing to less bulk cargo and a slight downturn in container handling, while there was an increase for conventional general cargo.In the Port of Hamburg, railborne container transport achieved a distinct advance of 4.3 percent in the first nine months of the year. A total of 1.8 million TEU – 20-ft standard containers – were transported by rail between the port and inland inter-modal terminals.

Shipping: No Progress on Climate Commitment, says T&E

The international shipping community has made little progress to advance the global  commitment made earlier this year to reduce the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions."This is despite impassioned pleas for action by climate scientists to the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) environment committee last month," said Transport & Environment (T&E).The leading NGO campaigning for cleaner transport in Europe said that some IMO delegates soon ‘would not have a country to land…

CMA CGM Completes Containerships Acquisition

The CMA CGM Group has completed the acquisition of Containerships, a container-transportation and logistics company.The European Commission authorized this transaction on October 22nd. Containerships, which specializes in the intra-European market, will complement CMA CGM’s service offering.Containerships, a European door-to-door specialistFounded in 1966, Containerships is a Finnish company specialized in Intra-European containerized trade with 690 employees. Containerships offers its clients a complete range of high-quality services…

Bulk Sector Prospects Perking Up

The bulk sector is navigating its way out of the doldrums but market correction has come at a price, delegates attending Bulk Terminals 2018 learned last week.Speaking in Hamburg at the annual conference of the Association of Bulk Terminal Operators, Frachtcontor Director Frank Grone said that while the bulk segment is slowly but steadily working its way out of the doldrums with a positive cash flow, he reminded delegates that 60mdwt was scrapped in 2015 and 2016 at “ridiculous prices”…

Costa Rica Grants Green Light to Moín Terminal

APM Terminals’ Moín Container Terminal (MCT) in Costa Rica has been granted permission by the National Council of Concessions (CNC) to start commercial operations at its first deep-sea berth. This is a key step for the terminal, which is on schedule to be fully operational in February 2019.The permit, which is subject to meeting all safety and service requirements, will enable the transfer of all commercial container ships currently serviced at Puerto Limón and Puerto Moín to the MCT.

Port of Rotterdam Authority to Invest in Port of Pecém

Allard Castelein, the CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, and Camilo Santana, Governor of the Brazilian state of Ceará, signed an investment agreement regarding the Port of Rotterdam Authority’s participation in the development of the port of Pecém.The agreement sets out how the Port of Rotterdam Authority will be investing some EUR 75 million in Pecém’s port-industrial complex, constituting a 30% share in this enterprise.In addition, the Port of Rotterdam Authority will gain…

LNG Report: Floating Liquefaction & Regasification

International Maritime Associates has completed a 12-month study of the global market for floating gas liquefaction plants and floating LNG regasification terminals. The 150+ page study, published by World Energy Reports, is the most detailed analysis yet made of this growing business sector. Project Success EvaluationThe IMA study is the first professional effort to systematically look at the universe of FLNG and FSRU projects in the planning stage – and categorize the likelihood of each making the development investment hurdle.

KNOT Concludes TC Contract for Two Shuttle Tankers

Norway-headquartered Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers (KNOT) has concluded a time-charter contract for two shuttle tankers with Equinor ASA for a maximum 20-year period starting in the second quarter of 2020.KNOT is a NYK Group company, in which NYK has a 50 percent share.The contract aims to use two 152,000 DWT Suezmax tankers equipped with dynamic-positioning systems built by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. to shuttle crude oil produced in waters off Brazil.Upon commencement of this contract…

Russia's Novatek Ships First LNG Cargo to Brazil

Russian natural gas producer Novatek has shipped its first LNG cargo to the Brazilian market with LNG produced from the Yamal LNG project.A statement from PAO Novatek said that its wholly owned subsidiary, Novatek Gas and Power Asia Pte. Ltd. has shipped its first LNG cargo to the Brazilian market with LNG produced from the Yamal LNG project. The cargo was delivered to the Bahia Regasification Terminal owned by Petrobras.“Our LNG marketing strategy aims to diversify our supply geography and customer base,” noted Leonid Mikhelson, Novatek’s Chairman of the Management Board.

Chinese Steel Mills Chase Iron Ore Contracts with Brazil's Vale

Chinese steel mills and traders are rushing to secure long-term contracts for high-quality iron ore ahead of winter steel output cuts, a boon for the main supplier of such grades of the commodity, Brazilian mining giant Vale.China, the world's biggest consumer of the steelmaking ingredient, needs higher-quality, less polluting grades of iron ore as it battles to clear its notoriously smoggy skies.That demand highlights how China's prolonged war on pollution is shaking global markets for iron ore…

Aker Solutions Wins Services Contract with Petrobras

Petrobras has awarded Aker Solutions a contract to provide maintenance and modifications services for nine platforms at oil and gas fields in the Campos Basin offshore Brazil.The Campos Basin extends approximately 100,000 square kilometers. The three-year contract is valued at more than BRL 250 million and includes an option for a two-year extension.Aker Solutions will be renovating, repairing and upgrading offshore production units for Petrobras' Campos Basin Operational Unit (UO-BC).

Port Management and Efficiency Training in France

High-level officials and decision-makers from maritime and port authorities around the world are undergoing intense training in port management and operational efficiency at the annual Advanced Course on Port Operations and Management based in Le Havre, France (10 September to 12 October).The opening of the course coincided with Le Havre's celebration of World Maritime Day and its theme: International Maritime Organization (IMO) 70 Our heritage – better shipping for a better future.IMO's Chris Trelawny delivered the opening address and lectured on the role of IMO…

BIMCO: Shipping in the Line of Trade War Crossfire

BIMCO, the world’s largest international shipping association, issued a stern warning today as once again, the already long list of tariffed goods has been made even longer.Many more commodities were hit on 23 August, but September is likely to dwarf it all, as the US has proposed tariffs on goods worth USD 200 billion. According to BIMCO, The tariffed goods’ share of global trade is largely underestimating the overall negative impact of this trade war on globalisation and international shipping.BIMCO’s chief shipping analyst Peter Sand remarked…

Stena Bulk Charters Out MR Tanker Pair to Petrobras

Stena Bulk said it has signed a contract with Brazil's state-owned oil company to charter out a pair of MR product tankers for transporting refined products along the Brazilian coast. The two-year deal includes the option to extend the charters for another 11 months.The 47,000 dwt tankers, Stena Conqueror and Stena Conquest, were built in 2003 and 2004 respectively.“We have a long-standing, highly-valued relationship with Petrobras when it comes to both Suezmax and MR tankers and we are committed to continue to provide them with safe and efficient deliveries.

Klaveness Combination Carriers Seeks Fund for CLEANBU Vessels

Norwegian shipping company Klaveness Combination Carriers AS holds several attractive growth options and is now launching a contemplated private placement of shares with total gross proceeds of approximately USD 45-70 million.The owner and operator of modern combination carriers said that current investors, management and previous CABU investors will subscribe for USD 25 million.Klaveness Combination Carriers AS (KCC), with its nine CABU vessels in operation and five CLEANBU vessels on order, is the leading owner and operator of modern combination carriers.