Sea-Intelligence’s Post

Red Sea transit volume is down by an estimated 57% y/y so far this month (through Feb 11), compared to a drop of 45% y/y in January. A breakdown by vessel type shows reduced tanker traffic as the main driver behind this further decline. Learn more at https://portwatch.imf.org

Given the safety concerns associated with total loss of power of large shipping vessels should we approach marine fuel quality with the same level of seriousness as jet fuel? https://lnkd.in/gj_nPCNY

Last July a tanker heading to Port Arthur, Texas, wasn’t responding to navigation commands to slow down. The crew aboard the Singapore-owned tanker tried to restart the main engine but weren’t able to regain steering. They ultimately threw down an anchor, bringing the vessel to a stop half an hour later. Poor fuel quality caused the main engine to fail and auxiliary engines to wear down, according to an incident report viewed by The WSJ. Several ships over the past few years have experienced blackouts or engine failures at and near ports around the world. One culprit: contaminated fuel. “It’s a malaise for the industry,” said Subhangshu Dutt, a former ship captain and founder of Om Maritime, which owns the tanker that had problems off the Texas coast last year. It isn’t yet known whether contaminated fuel contributed to the Dali cargo ship accident in late March. After departing the Port of Baltimore, crew reported the ship lost power and its engine failed before its crashing into the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Analyzing the fuel is among several lines of inquiry as safety investigators piece together the ship blackout’s cause, investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board have said. The NTSB will test the quality of marine diesel the ship used and search for potential contaminants, said agency Chair Jennifer Homendy. Engine failures can result from issues beyond fuel, such as the malfunction of key electrical systems.   The maritime industry has long grappled with how to ensure fuels don’t ground massive ships and global trade flows. Problems can stem from crews not properly switching onboard fuels. They could also be the result of suppliers tampering with products to pad profits. Filling up a giant ship with fuel is more complicated than taking a passenger vehicle to the gas station. The refueling process can take hours. Crews toggle between fuels based on a ship’s location, often switching to a cleaner-burning, diesel-like fuel in and around U.S. and European ports. Ships run on thick, tar-like residual fuel oil—made from the stuff left over in crude refining when more valuable products have boiled off. Residual fuel oil contains more impurities than gasoline and higher volumes of noxious substances like sulfur. Some contaminants that shipping firms worry about occur naturally in oil or get into fuel during the refining process. Many vessels have onboard purifiers, which like giant salad spinners rotate thousands of times a minute to remove impurities before fuel gets injected into the engine. One contamination method is called “cappuccino.” It involves pumping oil into a ship’s tank with compressed air, creating a layer of foam. When the fuel is measured for volume the foam stands a few inches higher than the liquid below. The practice enables suppliers to pump in less fuel. Suppliers eager to plump up profits sometimes blend shipping fuel with liquids such as used car lubricants, paraffin or industrial waste. 

Latest shipping via Suez Canal. By ship type. May be the only ships using the Red Sea are high risk and allies of Houthis.

Our Swiss WorldCargo Dangerous Goods expert Patrick Ehrensperger was recently featured in the SWISS video series “Ask the Expert”. He shed light on the particularities of transporting batteries, rechargeable batteries or power banks on passenger aircraft. Due to potential safety hazards caused by loose batteries, they must always be stored in the passengers’ carry-on baggage. When it comes to cargo, we can transport devices with batteries as cargo consignments in line with Dangerous Goods regulations. Our SWISS Vulnerables Product offers tailored solutions for transporting Electronics and High-Tech Products. Combined with the Transportation Solution Dangerous Goods, the necessary precautions can be taken to ensure the safe and compliant shipment of our customers’ sensitive electronics. Our skilled personnel are trained to handle dangerous and sensitive goods and enhanced security measures are implemented for every step of the shipment’s way. See in the video below how Patrick elaborates on the risks of transporting loose batteries in checked baggage, what is important in case of emergencies with batteries, and the processes employed to detect them in the passengers’ baggage.

The #steamship industry has quietly welcomed over one million TEUs of new capacity in the past year, but expectations are quite low that this will help cover much demand right out of the gate. Check out our latest #ShapTalk to see what’s going on with ocean carrier supply—and catch up on any other industry news you might’ve missed! Read our latest issue now: https://bit.ly/3VRpOAa #Logistics #SupplyChain #FreightForwarding #Shapiro 

The #steamship industry has quietly welcomed over one million TEUs of new capacity in the past year, but expectations are quite low that this will help cover much demand right out of the gate. Check out our latest #ShapTalk to see what’s going on with ocean carrier supply—and catch up on any other industry news you might’ve missed! Read our latest issue now: https://bit.ly/3VRpOAa #Logistics #SupplyChain #FreightForwarding #Shapiro 

Reliability and Efficiency Redefined with CARGOES Port Community System. Seamlessly connect with terminal operating systems for streamlined cargo management. Maximise every move- from ship to shore. Explore port excellence: https://lnkd.in/d2YUb5Tp #PortEfficiency #LogisticsManagement #terminaloperations #porttech

Check out the first MultiRELOAD teaser video on the potentials of transporting bulk cargo in containers on european inland waterways! Proudly orchestrated by TTS (Transport Trade Services) GmbH. #inlandshipping #multimodaltransport #containershipping