Page 8 - Shipping Industry

Houthis launch sea drone to attack ships hrs after US issues final warning

An armed unmanned surface vessel launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen got within a couple of miles of US Navy and commercial vessels before detonating on Thursday, just hours after the White House and a host of partner nations issued a final warning to the Iran-backed militia group to cease the attacks or face potential military action. Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of US Navy operations in the Middle East, said it was the first time the Houthis had used an unmanned surface vessel, or USV, since their harassment of commercial ships in the Red Sea began after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. They have, however, used them in years past. Fabian Hinz, a missile expert and research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the USV's are a key part of the Houthi maritime arsenal and were used during previous battles against the Saudi coalition forces that intervened in Yemen's war. They have regularly been used as suicide drone boats that explode upon ...

Will deploy naval vessel in Red Sea to fight Houthi attacks: Sri Lanka Prez

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced that Sri Lanka will provide a Navy vessel to fight attacks by Houthi rebels on merchant ships in the Red Sea, joining countries like India in protecting the key waterway for global trade. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have launched more than 20 attacks on merchant ships in recent weeks, claiming to take revenge against Israel for its military campaign against Palestinian terror group Hamas in Gaza. These attacks have sharply raised goods costs between Asia and Europe. Addressing an award ceremony here on Wednesday, Wickremesinghe, who holds the defence ministry portfolio, noted that merchant shipping was hit by Houthi attacks at the Red Sea and said if the ships were to be diverted and re-routed around South Africa, the voyages would become much more expensive. This could create (an) escalation of the cost of goods. "So we have agreed to send a Naval vessel to combat Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, he said. The Houthis, who control most

Houthis show no sign of ending Red Sea attacks as trade traffic up: US Navy

Yemen's Houthi rebels show no signs of ending their reckless attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, the top commander of US naval forces in the Middle East said on Saturday, even as more nations join the international maritime mission to protect vessels in the vital waterway and trade traffic begins to pick up. Since Operation Prosperity Guardian was announced just over 10 days ago, 1,200 merchant ships have travelled through the Red Sea region, and none has been hit by drone or missile strikes, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said in an Associated Press interview. He said additional countries are expected to sign on. Denmark was the latest, announcing on Friday it plans to send a frigate to the mission that Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced during a visit to Bahrain, where the Navy's 5th Fleet is based, saying that this is an international challenge that demands collective action. The narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea and then the Suez Canal. Th

Carefully evaluating all aspects of unfolding situation in Red Sea: MEA

India values the free movement of commercial shipping and is closely evaluating all aspects of the unfolding situation in the Red Sea, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, however, also added that New Delhi is not part of any multilateral initiative or operation in or around the Red Sea.Notably, tensions have brewed in the Red Sea after Houthi rebels stepped up attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea as a mark of 'protest' against Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip.Addressing the weekly briefing, Bagchi said, "As we said earlier, we value the free movement of commercial shipping, which is one of the fundamental principles underpinning global commerce. We are carefully evaluating all aspects of the unfolding situation in that region. Our defence forces are taking necessary measures in this regard"."But I'm not aware that India is part of any multilateral initiative or operation presently in or around the Red Sea," he ...

China aims to build more than half of world's cleaner-fuel ships by 2025

It did not give any estimates of the number of ships involved but said China would build more vessels powered by lower-carbon fuels as part of Beijing's push to become carbon neutral by 2060

Preparing for resumption of Red Sea voyages post-attacks from Yemen: Maersk

Shipping firm Maersk says it is preparing to allow vessels to resume sailing through the Red Sea, thanks to the start of a US-led multinational naval operation to protect shipping from attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen. Houthi attacks have led to a major disruption of shipping through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, one of the most important arteries for trade in oil, natural gas, grain and consumer goods between Europe and Asia. Maersk said in a statement on Sunday that we have received confirmation that the previously announced multi-national security initiative Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG) has now been set up and deployed to allow maritime commerce to pass through the Red Sea-Gulf of Aden and once again return to using the Suez Canal as a gateway between Asia and Europe. The company said it was working on plans for the first vessels to make the journey and for this to happen as soon as operationally possible. The Houthis are Iranian-backed rebels who seized Yemen's capita

Shipping companies revenue may decline by 5-7% in next fiscal: CRISIL

Domestic shipping companies are likely to see a further 5-7 per cent decline in revenue in the next financial year amid normalisation of the rates, a report said on Thursday. This follows a steep 23-25 per cent fall in their revenue in the current fiscal (2023-24) after a 35 per cent growth in the last financial year when charter rates had surged because of geopolitical conflicts (including the Russia-Ukraine war) and higher demand from China post-pandemic, credit rating agency CRISIL said on Thursday. While the margin profile may vary widely across players operating in different segments, CRISIL said the average operating margin may continue to moderate to 33-35 per cent in the next fiscal driven mainly by the correction in charter rates. However, it will remain higher than the pre-pandemic levels of 25-30 per cent, the rating agency forecast. This along with modest capital expenditure (capex) plans, should sustain the healthy credit risk profiles of shipping companies, CRISIL ...

Red Sea chaos has shippers bracing for weeks without key trade route

So shippers are sending vessels the long way around Africa, adding $1 million in costs - and seven to 10 days - to each voyage. Oil prices are creeping higher

Shipping firms brace for vigilance, price shocks over Red Sea situation

Ocean freight 10% costlier, shippers brace for further setback

Smooth sailing for US-sanctioned vessel carrying Russian crude oil

According to reports, the vessel, NS Century, is one of the three that has regularly been shipping Russian crude oil to India. It is expected to reach India's Vadinar Port in Gujarat on Saturday

Sarbananda Sonowal flags off Costa Serena's maiden domestic operations

The government plans to increase the annual number of cruise passengers in India to 1.8 million passengers by 2030

Working on plan to encourage traders to use Indian-flag vessels: Goyal

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India aims to be among the top five nations in shipbuilding over the next 25 years

India should look at making niche, medium-sized vessels: Cochin Shipyard MD

India can be in a "positive spot" when it comes to ship building prospects and the country should look at making niche, technologically-advanced vessels rather than large bulk carriers, according to a senior industry official. Cochin Shipyard Ltd's Chairman and Managing Director Madhu S Nair also said that India with an all-round positivity could emerge as an alternative hub in the space for niche and medium-sized, technologically advanced vessels amid the green transition. The general perception is that the focus should be building all those large bulk carriers or tankers for making India as a manufacturing base for ships, he pointed. "(However), I have a slightly different perception because our current structure is not ideally suited for that. So why shouldn't we look at our strengths, which would be (to focus) a little bit more on niche vessels that have advanced technologies, alternate fuel cells, hybrid electric vessels. Not very large but medium-size vessels," he told PTI ...

Backlog at Israeli ports grows, country steps up shipping supplies

Around 13 ships - comprising cargo, container and dry bulk vessels - were currently moored inside Ashdod port, according to MarineTraffic data

Israel-Hamas war: Higher shipping costs, premiums may lower export margins

Escalation of violence may impact trade volumes, say experts

Israel-Hamas war: Indian exporters may face higher premiums, shipping costs

Indian exporters shipping goods to Israel may face higher insurance premiums and shipping costs due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, according to experts. Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented multifront attack by air, land and sea by the Hamas militant group, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. The International trade experts said the conflict may reduce the profits of domestic exporters but will not impact trade volumes unless war escalates. "For merchandise exports of India, the war may lead to higher insurance premiums and shipping costs. India's ECGC may charge higher risk premiums from Indian firms exporting to Israel," think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said on Sunday. ECGC Ltd (formerly Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd) is wholly owned by the government of India. It was set up in 1957 with the objective of promoting exports from the country by providing credit risk insurance and related services for ...

NAP for Green Shipping promotes eco-friendly practices, says Jagannathan

The National Action Plan for Green Shipping promotes eco-friendly practices and incentives for low-emission ships, positioning India's maritime sector for a prosperous and environmentally responsible future, Director General of Shipping Shyam Jagannathan said on Wednesday. Speaking at the 13th edition of the South Asia's largest maritime exhibition and conference -- INMEX SMM India 2023 -- here, Jagannathan also said that the sector's vision encompasses quadrupling port capacity, clean energy fuel hubs, and cruise tourism growth, among others. The three-day conference, which is being hosted in the city in collaboration with German exhibition organiser Hamburg Messe und Congress, will cover several issues concerning the industry, including green shipping and digitalisation, among others. "The National Action Plan for Green Shipping promotes eco-friendly practices and incentives for low emission ships, positioning India's maritime sector for a prosperous and environmentally responsibl

Credit Suisse, Mozambique secure out-of-court 'tuna bond' settlement

The settlement included most of the creditors involved in funding a 2013 loan to ProIndicus, a state-owned Mozambican company, UBS said

Panama Canal drought and how it is impacting global trade, supply chain

The Panama Canal Authority has warned that water restrictions may continue into 2024, making it important for shipowners to create a contingency plan that does not further disrupt global supply chain

India to become green fuel destination for shipping sector: R K Singh

Singh said that the Centre will come out with pilot projects for the storage of green hydrogen and green ammonia for round-the-clock renewable energy