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Korea Launches First Containership Built for Autonomous Operations

South Korea today launched a new containership which is set to achieve new milestones in the efforts to develop autonomous shipping. The country’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is highlighting the vessel as the first large, ocean-going ship designed for Level 3 autonomous shipping and they plan to launch the first long-distance international demonstrations of autonomous shipping with this vessel later this year. At today’s ceremony shipbuilder Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in Ulsan, South Korea marked the float out and naming of the vessel. She is the Pos Singapore built for Pan Ocean. Ordered in 2022, the vessel is 564 feet (172 meters) in length with a capacity of 1,800 TEU. Registered in Liberia, the 22,200 dwt containership is scheduled to be delivered at the end of this month and then will begin outfitting and testing the autonomous system. The South Korean government highlights that it has designated autonomous vessels as a core initiative in its Advanced Maritime Mobility Development Strategy announced in November 2023. This project for autonomous shipping was launched in 2020 with the government committing more than $120 million for the research and development of the technology. A…

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Asaluyeh 

Port Asaluyeh – Special Economic Zone UNCTAD codes: IR ASA. Sea Asaluyeh Port Control: VHF Ch 16, 13 E-mail: asalcontrol@gmail.com Procedure: Notice of ETA: Inwards bound vessels should send their initialETA to port control 4h in advance, a further ETA should be confirmed 2h priorto arrival via VHF Ch 13. Notice of ETD:outwards bound vessel should send their ETA to port control 4 h in advance, furtherETD should be confirmed 2 h prior to arrival via VHF Ch 13. Vessel shall monitor VHF Ch 13 during pilotage operationsand at all times while on the jetty 4- following information require ·        Vessel Name ·        IMO number ·        LOA ·        Maximum draft ·     Last / next port of call  All vessel at asaluyeh anchorage defined area must keep at least a 1 n mile CPA from any vessel at anchor SPM pilots: VHF channel 77 Procedure: Navigation is not permitted within a radius of 2 n miles of the SPM without a pilot embarked. Pilot boarding in the following position: Pars port complex: 27 30.00N, 052 32.0E  SPM: 27 32.00N, 052 28.00E Bunker supply is not available, Fresh water available, Supply of store and provision are available…

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Three Killed in Houthi Attack On Greek-owned Ship

A Barbados-flagged, Greek-managed bulker was attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Wednesday, causing the first crew casualties since the group began attacking commercial shipping nearly five months ago. Several crewmembers are reported to have been killed in the attack and others badly injured after the vessel, the True Confidence, caught fire. The Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata responded to rescue the ship's crew and assess the situation. Eight survivors were hoisted by helicopter, and the injured were transferred aboard via small boat operations. All of the survivors were delivered to safety in Djibouti. “This was the sad and predictable result of the Houthis' reckless missile launches on international shipping. They must stop. Our deepest condolences are with the families of those who died and those who were injured," said the British Embassy in Yemen in a statement.  Later in the day, U.S. Central Command said that three crewmembers died in the attack and four were injured, of which three are in critical condition. The vessel sustained serious damage, American authorities said.  The 50,500 dwt bulker was traveling from China with a stop in Singapore bound for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia when it was attacked on Wednesday…

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