Russia News

ICE, Magellan to Offer Dock Capacity to Houston Oil Futures Customers

Intercontinental Exchange Inc and Magellan Midstream Partners LP said on Wednesday they would auction dock capacity at Magellan's terminals in Galena Park and Seabrook, Texas, for holders of ICE's Permian West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures contracts.The monthly auction process will allow customers who purchase an ICE Permian WTI crude futures contract, deliverable at Magellan's East Houston terminal (MEH), the option to load crude directly onto a vessel at Galena Park and Seabrook dock facilities for export…

China Mulls Hormuz Naval Escort Role

China might escort Chinese commercial vessels in Gulf waters under a U.S. proposal for a maritime coalition to secure oil shipping lanes following attacks on tankers, its envoy to the United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday."If there happens to be a very unsafe situation we will consider having our navy escort our commercial vessels," Ambassador Ni Jian told Reuters in Abu Dhabi."We are studying the U.S. proposal on Gulf escort arrangements," China's embassy later said in a text…

Oil slumps 7% as More Tariffs Loom

Oil prices plummeted more than 7% on Thursday, with the U.S. benchmark posting its worst day in more than four years, after President Donald Trump said he would impose additional tariffs Chinese imports starting Sept. 1.The drop in Brent crude was the steepest in more than three years, undoing a fragile oil rally built on steady drawdowns in U.S. inventories even as global demand looked shaky due to the U.S.-China trade dispute.Trump's announcement of an additional 10% levy on…

ABB Enhances Safety of Sovcomflot’s Arctic Fleet

ABB has won a contract to supply ABB Ability Remote Diagnostic Systems for Marine to eleven Sovcomflot vessels operating in the Arctic and Russia’s Far East, helping optimize safety and performance through 24/7 remote support.Sovcomflot’s vessels will be among over 1,000 ships connected to ABB Ability Collaborative Operation Centers worldwide. From here, ABB experts monitor operational shipboard systems, coordinate remote equipment diagnostics and offer predictive maintenance services – 24/7. This can be especially crucial for vessels operating in remote areas.

American Shipbuilding Act Re-introduced

Congressman John Garamendi and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker reintroduced the Energizing American Shipbuilding Act (H.R.3829), that seeks to revive domestic shipbuilding and maritime industries by requiring that increasing percentages of liquefied natural gas and crude oil exports be transported on U.S.-built, flagged and crewed vessels.The bill would require 15% of LNG exports to be carried on US-built ships by 2041 and 10% of crude oil exports to be carried on US-built ships by 2033.If enacted…

Stena Bulk Asks to Visit Crew of Seized Tanker

The British operator of the tanker seized by Tehran, Stena Bulk, made a request on Sunday, July 21st, to visit the 23 crew members of the seized tanker Stena Impero, and is expecting a response from the Iranian government.A statement from the tanker operator quoted President and Chief Executive of Stena Bulk, Erik Hanell, as saying: “I can confirm a formal request for permission to visit the 23 crew members of the Stena Impero has been made to the authorities at the Port of Bandar Abbas.“The request has been acknowledged, but we await a formal response.

Stakeholders Ignore U.S. Middle East Coalition Proposals

The United States is struggling to win its allies' support for an initiative to heighten surveillance of vital Middle East oil shipping lanes because of fears it will increase tension with Iran, six sources familiar with the matter said.Washington proposed on July 9 stepping up efforts to safeguard strategic waters off Iran and Yemen where it blames Iran and its proxies for tanker attacks. Iran denies the charges.But with Washington's allies reluctant to commit new weaponry or fighting forces…

Russia Goes to WTO about U.S. Steel Dumping Duties

Russia has launched a complaint at the World Trade Organization to challenge U.S. anti-dumping measures on imports of hot-rolled flat-rolled carbon-quality steel from Russia, it said in a filing published by the WTO on Tuesday.The Russian complaint listed eight separate U.S. announcements between 1999 and February 2019 that Russia said broke WTO rules. The United States has 60 days in which to settle the dispute. After that period, Russia could ask the WTO to adjudicate. (Reporting by Tom Miles; Editing by Catherine Evans)

Mitsui, JOGMEC join Arctic LNG-2

Japanese trading house Mitsui & Co and state-owned Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) have signed a sales and purchase agreement with Russia’s Novatek for a 10% participation interest in the Arctic LNG 2 project.The share will be acquired through the Dutch Company, Japan Arctic LNG B.V., in which Mitsui has invested jointly with JOGMEC. The equity ratio of JOGMEC and Mitsui will be set at 75 percent and 25 percent respectively.The project will develop natural…

Trump Warns Tehran of Possible Attack, Calls for Talks

Iranian officials told Reuters on Friday that Tehran had received a message from U.S. President Donald Trump warning that a U.S. attack on Iran was imminent but saying he was against war and wanted talks on a range of issues.News of the message, delivered through Oman overnight, came shortly after the New York Times said Trump had approved military strikes against Iran on Friday over the downing of a U.S. surveillance drone, but called them off at the last minute."In his message…

Containerships Introduces Second LNG-Powered Ship

Containerships, an expert in Intra-Europe and a subsidiary of the CMA CGM Group, a leader in shipping and logistics, has announced it took delivery of its second container ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the Containerships Polar.As the second LNG-powered ship for Containerships and the CMA CGM Group, the Containerships Polar will be phased into the redesigned BALT 2 service in the Port of Rotterdam on June 23rd, 2019. At the beginning of May, the 1,380-TEU vessel…

Maersk Explores Arctic Shipping Route with Russia

Shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk said on Friday it is in talks with Russia's state-owned icebreaker operator to send more goods via the Arctic, which is becoming more accessible as climate change reduces the sea ice.Russia has made developing the so-called northern sea route (NSR) - which requires new ports and heavy icebreakers to move goods - a priority, with supporters dubbing the route the northern Suez Canal.Last summer, Maersk carried out what it said was a one-off trial…

Sovcomflot Selects Orange for Maritime VSAT

Russian maritime shipping company specializing in petroleum and LNG shipping Sovcomflot has chosen Orange Business Services to deploy an advanced Maritime VSAT solution on eight vessels.According to a press release from the the business services arm of Orange S.A., this initial rollout will keep the ships connected even when operating on the high seas, improving safety and optimizing navigation in challenging conditions.In addition, this solution will make it easier for crews to stay in touch with friends and family…

DP World Mulls Port Deals Along Russia's Northern Route

DP World, one of the world's largest port operators, wants to run ports that Russia plans to build along the northern sea route in the Arctic to shorten shipping times between the east and west, its chief executive told Reuters.Russian President Vladimir Putin has made developing the northern sea route (NSR) - which requires new ports and heavy icebreakers to move goods - one of his priorities, with supporters dubbing the route the northern Suez Canal.Dubai government-controlled DP World operates 78 marine and inland terminals…

Maersk India Trade Report Q1 2019

India’s containerized exports with the world witnessed a stable growth of 6% in the first quarter of 2019 propelled by robust performances in refrigerated cargo, engineering and pharmaceuticals sectors, while imports declined slightly in the same quarter registering a market growth of -2.2% in Q1. The import demand was buoyed by pharmaceuticals, metal, appliances and kitchenware, paper, chemicals and fruit & nuts, mainly from Northern Europe, South Asia, China and Russia. Exports were driven largely by the East and West of India…

Maersk Unveils its First Cold Store in Russia

Danish international container shipping company A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S (Maersk) has launched the construction of its new cold store facility in St. Petersburg to address the needs of a high-demand Russian market.The 3-chamber warehouse will offer specialised solutions extending the life cycle of perishable goods, said a press release from the business conglomerate with activities in the transport, logistics and energy sectors.On June 5th, 2019, the ground-breaking ceremony for the new warehouse took place in St.

Tillerson Applauds U.S. Trade Goals, Not Tactics

Rex Tillerson, the former U.S. secretary of state and Exxon Mobil Corp chairman who has clashed with President Donald Trump since leaving the administration, said on Wednesday he supports the president's trade objectives "but may not support the tactical moves."Speaking to a group of energy executives in Houston, Tillerson said he was concerned that pursuing bilateral trade talks around the globe could weaken Washington's network of allies, which he called "that very strong alliance…

Gazpromneft Marine Bunker in Pact with Cruise Lines

The Gazprom Neft bunkering business Gazpromneft Marine Bunker has concluded new agreements with cruise operators Royal Caribbean International and Saga Cruises.Gazpromneft Marine Bunker will be managing approximately 60 bunkering operations for Royal Caribbean and Saga cruise liners during the summer navigation season (May—September 2019) at St Petersburg’s Marine Façade passenger port.Total sales of marine fuels under these contracts are expected to be in the order of 55,000…

Russia: Sovcomflot Posts Strong Q1 Profit

Russian maritime shipping company specializing in petroleum and LNG shipping, PAO Sovcomflot (SCF Group) has posted $70.1m in profit for the first quarter ended 31 March 2019.Sergey Frank, President and CEO of PAO Sovcomflot said: “Sovcomflot started 2019 with a strong Q1 performance, boosted by a return to profitability in our conventional crude and product tanker markets following an upswing in the first months of 2019. Profits from our crude fleet in particular increased 53…

China's Tariffs on U.S. LNG Mean Nothing, Everything

China's decision to hike import duties on U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a move that means very little for the market in the short term, but it has the potential to deliver outsized consequences the longer the levies remain in place.As part of its latest round of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports, Beijing increased the duty on LNG shipments from 10 percent to 25 percent.This will make it even more uneconomic for Chinese buyers to purchase LNG cargoes from the United States.

U.S. seizes 'sanction buster' North Korean Ship

The United States has for the first time seized a North Korean cargo ship it accused of illicit coal shipments in violation of U.S. and United Nations sanctions, the U.S. Justice Department announced on Thursday.The ship, known as the "Wise Honest," was first detained by Indonesia in April 2018. Under an unusual U.S. civil forfeiture action, the vessel is now in the possession of the United States and is currently approaching U.S. territorial waters heading toward American Samoa, U.S.

Poor April for Seaborne Coal masks Better Market

Coal exporters suffered a poor April with seaborne volumes dropping from the previous month amid slack demand, but the overall picture for the industry so far this year isn't quite as gloomy as it may appear.April is not traditionally a strong month for coal demand as it falls between the winter and summer power demand peaks - declining seaborne volumes are to be expected.It's also worth noting that the world's top coal exporters have managed to boost shipments on a year-on-year basis…

Wärtsilä Solutions Increase Safety in Arctic Waters

The technology group Wärtsilä has been contracted by Sovcomflot, Russia’s largest shipping company, to roll out a Wärtsilä Fleet Operations solution for Sovcomflot’s fleet of Arctic shuttle tankers.The aim is to promote sustainable development, and to increase the safety and efficiency of operations in the sensitive Arctic waters. Wärtsilä will also provide a core solution for the company’s fleet operation center. The order was booked in March 2019.The solution has been developed as a result of collaboration between Sovcomflot and Transas, a Wärtsilä company.

FESCO Optimizes the Rotation

Russian shipping company FESCO Transportation Group announced that as part of the development of FESCO Fast Forward services it is optimizing the rotation and changing the names of regular shipping lines from China and the Republic of Korea to Russia.Transportation services between China and Russia will be carried out under the brand FESCO China Express, and between the Republic of Korea and Russia - under the brand FESCO Korea Express.FESCO China Express will operate on two routes…

HMM, FESCO Expand Cooperation

South Korean major Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) unveiled its plans to expand cooperation with Russian container line FESCO on their China Russia North Service (CRN).HMM has been jointly operating a China-Korea-Russia weekly service, under the name of ‘CRN’ with FESCO and CMA CGM.With the expansion of cooperation, the current CRN will be reorganized and two of new direct services connecting Korea and Russia, named 'KR2 (Korea Russia Service 2)' and 'KRS (Korea Russia Service)', will be introduced in the service network of HMM.HMM deploys one vessel (1,000 TEU) on the KR2 which directly connect

Seagull Maritime Acquires Tero Marine

Seagull Maritime announced that they have acquired a majority of the shares in Tero Marine. Tero Marine, headquartered in Bergen, Norway, has developed fleet management software for the shipping industry for more than three decades. The company’s flagship, TM Master, is recognized as one of the leading brands in the business. Today, TM Master is a crucial tool for shipowners all over the world, not only as an instrument for planned maintenance (and asset management), but also as a business intelligence resource.Tero Marine is growing fast and has currently more than 55 employees…