Author: manager

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Denmark Sets Restrictions for Transit of Ammonium Nitrate Laden Vessel

The saga of the bulker Ruby, laden with a potentially explosive cargo, continues with the authorities in Northern Europe closely tracking the vessel’s movements. The resolution of the situation remains unclear as the ship continues to hold 20,000 tons of ammonium nitrate which is causing concern over the dangerous nature of the cargo under certain conditions. Reports say it has seven times the amount of the material that caused the devastating explosion in Beirut in 2020. The vessel arrived off Denmark on Friday, September 20, continuing to declare it is bound for Klaipeda, Lithuania where it was scheduled to undergo repairs. The vessel’s hull cracked in an Arctic storm in late August, which was confirmed in a Port State inspection in Norway. Media reports are saying the rudder and propeller are also damaged. Ruby has been holding near the entrance to the Skagerrak, the first leg of the passage around Denmark and into the Baltic. The vessel has been sitting there for approximately 24 hours with an anchor handler tug, Amber II, also registered in Malta, appearing to be escorting the ship. For a time earlier in the week, the vessel…

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Maersk Joins with LR and CORE to Study Nuclear-Powered Container Shipping

Maersk is joining in with a collaboration between Lloyd’s Register and CORE Power that could provide the long-term pathway for nuclear-powered commercial shipping. Using a feeder containership operating in a European port, the collaboration will determine the safety and regulatory considerations and necessary framework for nuclear-powered commercial shipping based on a fourth-generation nuclear reactor. “The initiation of this joint study marks the beginning of an exciting journey towards unlocking the potential of nuclear power in the maritime industry, paving the way for emissions-free operations, more agile service networks, and greater efficiency through the supply chain,” said Nick Brown, CEO of Lloyd’s Register. Lloyd’s Register has been at the forefront of the ongoing discussion on the potential of nuclear power in the future of commercial shipping. There was excitement about the potential for nuclear power in the 1950s with the United States leading the way by developing the cargo-passenger ship NS Savannah as a prototype to demonstrate the potential. Then as now, however, public perception and fears of nuclear power held back the development as well as rumored opposition from the U.S. Navy that feared commercial initiatives might interfere with its developing nuclear…

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Houthis Claim First Launch of Hypersonic Missile Targeting MSC Ship

The Houthis military and spokesperson claim that they launched a hypersonic missile for the first time to target an MSC containership far out in the Gulf of Aden. This comes after several days of increased activity and additional claims that the militants are also launching a new, faster, and sleeker attack boat. The Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree revealed the identity of the missile that targeted the Israeli ship MSC Sarah V in the Arabian Sea for the first time. He said that the missile possesses advanced technology, is accurate in hitting, and reaches long ranges because it is locally made. Observers are raising new concerns based on the distance of the reported attack. The MSC Sarah V (67,795 dwt registered in Liberia) was 280 miles southeast of Nishtun, in eastern Yemen near Oman. The vessel sailed on Monday near Yemen’s Socotra Island, bound for Abu Dhabi. While the Houthis have always claimed a direct hit, the U.K. Maritime Trade Organizations said it received a report from the master of a “proximity” explosion. They said there were no injuries or damage, and the vessel was proceeding. The Houthis have previously staged a few…

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