Western Australia News

Two Container Giants Visits Austalian Port

Two of the largest-capacity container ships to ever visit Australia are making calls to the Fremantle Inner Harbour this month.The first one, Maersk Skarstind, has already arrived in Fremantle. Maersk Skarstind berthed around 9.30pm on July 15th assisted by a pilot and three Svitzer tugs.Capable of carrying more than 9400 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) each—around double the number on most container ships visiting Australia—Maersk Skarstind and MSC Elma are about 300 meters long and 48 meters wide.While MSC Archimidis…

Liebherr: Reachstacker Order in Australia

Tianqi Lithium Kwinana has placed an order with Liebherr for the first LRS 545 Reachstacker in Australia. The new device is a part of a package including two Liebherr XPower wheel loaders. The new machine is scheduled to go into operation in July this year.Tianqi Lithium operates a new lithium hydroxide plant in the Kwinana Industrial Area, south of Perth in Western Australia. The company works every day to meet the rapidly growing demand for rechargeable batteries driven, for example, by the electric vehicle and energy storage industries.

“It’s the steel production, stupid!”

BIMCO's Peter Sand, in a new report, weighs in on the implications for the Dry Bulk sectors.Chinese imports of iron ore keep falling, while its crude steel production keeps growing. China’s increased use of scrap metal for its production of crude steel is fundamentally critical to the dry bulk shipping industry. Mostly Capesize ships are impacted by this, way beyond the temporary iron ore export disruptions in Brazil and Australia.Chinese steel production grew by a massive 12.6 million tonnes (+9.2%) in the first two months on 2019 as estimated by China Iron and Steel Association (CISA).

China's Commodity Imports Tepid, but Improving

If you were looking for evidence that China's economy has lost momentum, you may be tempted to think that you've found it in the unimpressive growth, or lack thereof, in imports of major commodities in the first quarter.Customs data for the first quarter show only crude oil has recorded significant growth in import volumes in the first quarter, with copper data mixed and iron ore and coal dropping.This would seem to confirm the narrative of slowing growth in the world's second-largest economy amid the ongoing trade and tariff dispute with the United States.But as usual the devil is in the deta

INPEX Selects NAPA for LNG Carrier Fleet

Japan's largest oil and gas exploration and production company INPEX Corporation has installed ClassNK-NAPA GREEN for monitoring operations on three of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.NAPA said that Inpex awarded a deal to the company for the provision of a solution for monitoring and follow-up of ship operations on two LNG carriers built to service the Ichthys project and one LNG carrier for Shell’s Prelude FLNG project.With the core motivation of accurately verifying the technical performance of these highly complex carriers…

Klaveness Combination Carriers Extends Contract with South32

Norwegian shipping company Klaveness Combination Carriers (KCC) said that it has signed an agreement with South32 Marketing Pte Ltd extending the current Contract of affreightment (COA).According to the owner and operator of combination carriers, the COA is for shipments of caustic soda to Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd, South32’s alumina refinery located in Western Australia.Through this agreement, the term of the COA is extended by three years from January 2019 to December 2021 with…

Baltic Index Losing Streak Continues as Capesize Rates Drag

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships transporting dry bulk commodities, fell for the eighth consecutive session on Thursday, pressured by weakness in the capesize segment.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, fell 73 points, or 5.6 percent, to 1,231 points, its lowest since June 4.The capesize index declined for the seventh straight session, tumbling 221 points, or 11.2 percent, to 1,747 points - also its lowest since June 4.

Joyce Krane Moves into Maritime Sector

The family business Joyce Krane from Karratha recently ordered an LHM 280 Mobile Harbor Crane. The Australian heavy lift and logistic company has been a Liebherr customer of mobile cranes for many years and is now opting for its first Liebherr maritime crane. Joyce Krane, an Australian heavy-lift and logistics specialist with more than 40 years of experience, is a long-standing Liebherr customer for mobile cranes. Joyce Krane from Karratha recently ordered an LHM 280 Mobile Harbor Crane for quayside operation in Dampier, Western Australia.

AAL Ramps Up Asia-Australia Liner Service

Breakbulk and heavy lift project cargo operator AAL said it will boost its scheduled North and South East Asia to Australia West Coast Liner Service (AUWC) to a monthly service with the addition of a second MPV vessel. The expansion comes on the back of very strong growth (16 percent in 2017/1018) for Western Australia’s $109 billion mineral and petroleum industry, due mainly to rising commodity prices, stronger than expected export demand and growing local production.AAL’s AUWC…

Bhagwan Marine Expands Fleet

Just months after moving its corporate headquarters to Perth in order to strengthen relationships with Western Australia’s largest Oil & Gas clients, Bhagwan Marine has expanded its fleet further to meet the needs of those clients.The CMV Athos and the DP2 SeaMaster are both Dynamic Positioning (DP2) vessels, combining enhanced capabilities with greatly improved efficiency, safety and manoeuvrability.The CMV Athos is a 65m ABS Classed, Multi-Purpose Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS)…

Gorgon LNG Faces Scrutiny on Delayed Carbon Capture Project

The state of Western Australia has ordered an inquiry into a delay in burying carbon dioxide emissions at Chevron Corp's Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, which could lead to a change in conditions on the project.The state approved the $54-billion Gorgon project in 2009 on the condition that at least 80 percent of carbon dioxide released in its gas processing operations over a five-year rolling average period would be buried."It has become apparent there needs to be a clearly defined start point for the commencement of the five-year rolling average…

Authorities team up for S&R Exercise off Perth

A major search and rescue training exercise has taken place off Rottnest Island in Western Australia yesterdayinvolving both state and federal authorities. Search and rescue crews from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), Western Australia Police Force (WA Police) and Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services (WA DFES) teamed up for the exercise which simulated an aviation incident at sea. The scenario involved a simulated light plane which had been forced to ditch into the water just before 8am AWST about 7km northwest of Rottnest Island.

Maersk Supply Service Wins Contract With Quadrant Energy

Maersk Master and Maersk Mariner, Maersk Supply Service’s two first Starfish-class anchor handling vessels built in 2017, will be on contract with Quadrant Energy in Western Australia, commencing March 2018. Both vessels will support Quadrant Energy’s Phoenix South and Van Gogh drilling campaign which will initially cover three wells for a duration of 150 to 200 days. The highly modern and efficient vessels will be supporting Transocean’s semi-submersible rig DD1 with supply and anchor handling duties throughout the campaign. “Quadrant Energy is an important customer.

Port Hedland May Clear Ships as Storm Builds off Australia

Giant iron ore port may close as Australian storm builds. Vessels may be cleared from Australia's Port Hedland, the world's biggest iron ore export terminal, as early as Thursday as a safety precaution because of a tropical storm, port manager Pilbara Ports Authority said on Wednesday. The authority said Port Hedland may start clearing vessels on Thursday morning if the tropical low builds overnight into a cyclone off the Western Australia coastline. Port Hedland is used by three of Australia's top four iron ore miners - BHP,, Fortescue Metals Group and Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting.

Bulkers to Benefit as China Iron Ore Appetite Grows

It has been quite awhile since the global bulk carrier market has had much to cheer about, but U.S. dry bulk shippers are set to post strong revenue growth in the next two years thanks to soaring Chinese demand for high-grade iron ore from Brazil and Australia. To combat severe winter smog, China has slashed iron ore output, pushing steel mills in the world's second biggest economy to import more high-grade ore. China also wants to make pollution control a priority for the next three years.

China, Australia Ports Clogged as Coal, Ore Demand Soars

Around 300 ships caught in jam that would stretch 40 miles; freight rates for biggest coal, ore carrier hit 3-yr high. More than 300 large dry cargo ships are having to wait outside Chinese and Australian ports in a maritime traffic jam that spotlights bottlenecks in China's huge and global commodity supply chain as demand peaks this winter. With some vessels waiting to load coal and iron ore outside Australian ports for over a month, key charter rates have jumped to their highest in more than three years.

CERCG Looking to Ship LNG from Australia's West to East

State-owned China Energy Reserve and Chemicals Group (CERCG) on Monday said it is investigating whether to ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Western Australia to the gas-hungry east coast market. The Chinese integrated energy firm, which runs oil and gas projects, processing plants and gas distribution, said in a press release to Reuters that subsidiary CERCG Australia is studying the viability of transporting LNG by road, rail and ship. CERCG Australia's business manager Kevin Gao said the company would use LNG container tanks which can maintain liquefaction for 110 days.

SolstadFarstad Wins New Contracts in Australia

SolstadFarstad ASA (SOFF) has been awarded several new contracts for the provision of vessels within Australia. McDermott International Inc. affiliated company, MAPL have awarded the provision of a General Purpose Support Vessel, Far Stream, and pipe-haul PSV’s performing services for work Offshore Western Australia. The contract is due to commence during Q1/Q2 2018 and the combined vessels utilization is approx. 200 days. Cooper Energy has supplemented their earlier award of Far Saracen and Far Senator for their upcoming Bass Strait drilling campaign…

Capesize Rates to Climb in a 'Market on Fire'

Freight rates for large dry cargo ships on key Asian routes, which hit three-year highs this week, are likely to rise further on a shortage of ships available for immediate charter, brokers said. Rates for 180,000 deadweight tonne (DWT) capesize ships are set to break $10 a tonne from Australia to China in the next few days, while rates could also surpass $20 a tonne from Brazil to China. "There are more chances of rates breaking $10 than $20 because the Australian market is more active among miners and vessel operators," a Singapore-based capesize broker said on Thursday.

Austal Opens Up Trimaran Deal with Fred Olsen

Austal’s latest contract announcement for two 117 metre high speed vehicle passenger ferries, for Fred Olsen SA, not only sends a strong signal to the international market that ‘fast ferries are back’, but confirms Austal’s proven trimaran hull design as the most cost effective and highly capable vessel platform to deliver superior seakeeping and schedule performance. The €126million Euro (A$190million) contract, announced at Interferry 2017 in Split Croatia represents Fred Olsen SA’s largest ever ferry order.

Wheatstone LNG Facility Exports First Cargo to Japan

Australia's Wheatstone liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, after starting production earlier this month, has shipped its first export cargo to a buyer in Japan, majority owner and operator Chevron Corp said on Tuesday. Wheatstone is the sixth out of eight projects in a $200 billion Australian LNG construction boom that is now in its final stretch. The two remaining project due to for start-up are Royal Dutch Shell's Prelude floating LNG project and Ichthys, led by Japan's Inpex.

Baltic Index Rises on Higher Rates across All Segments

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, rose on Wednesday, helped by higher rates across all vessel segments. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, was up 29 points, or 3.49 percent, at 859 points. The capesize index gained 91 points, or 12.05 percent, to 846 points. Capesize earnings are on the rise with average earnings ticking up to about $7,200/day as the market continues to gain some traction in Western Australia and Brazil…

LNG Marine Fuel Institute Launched in Canberra

Port Hedland Mayor, Camilo Blanco, and the Town of Port Hedland’s CEO, David Pentz, attended the launch of the LNG Marine Fuel Institute at Parliament House, Canberra on Wednesday, June 21. The Institute, which was opened by The Honorable Josh Frydenberg MP, Federal Minister for the Environment and Energy, hopes to see Australian LNG as the primary fuel for marine transportation, powering the road, rail and mining industries. Mayor Blanco said that the Institute will work with industry and Government partners to position Australia at the forefront of LNG…

High-tech VTS System to Guide Iron Ore Giants

One of Australia’s most important economic gateways will soon house a state-of-the-art shipping management control system to be installed at Port Hedland, the world’s largest bulk export port. The system includes a command and control system integrated with advanced radar, long-range closed circuit TV and voice radio technology to safely manage and guide thousands of ship movements in and out of the tidally constrained port with pinpoint precision. The Vessel Traffic Service (VTS)…

Partners to Develop Western Australia LNG Supply

Woodside and GE have signed an agreement to work together to support the use of LNG as a fuel in Western Australia. The agreement will provide customers with the option of seamless access to reliable LNG fuel supply and gas-fuelled transport and power generation solutions. Woodside CEO Peter Coleman said that this type of collaboration was key to development of the LNG fuel market in Western Australia. “The agreement between our companies will harness the combined experience and offerings of Woodside and GE…

Australia’s New Ship Simulation Center Opened

A new specialist Ship Simulation Center, based in Atwell Arcade, Fremantle, was officially opened on Thursday, February 9, 2017 by City of Fremantle Mayor Dr. Brad Pettitt. The Australia Ship Simulation Center, owned and operated by HR Wallingford, has moved into new premises from where it will continue to provide expert navigation consultancy and a dedicated pilot training center for Western Australia and the wider region. HR Wallingford UK’s Chief Executive, Dr. Bruce Tomlinson and Dr.