Maritime News Thread

A study led by the University of Southampton has mapped several sites in Europe containing gas hydrate including areas off the west coast of Greenland, around Svalbard, off central Norway and west of Ireland.

Vast amounts of natural gas are stored in an ice-like form beneath the seabed, under the deep seafloor, close to the edge of landmasses. This gas hydrate, sometimes known as “ice that burns,” has the potential to play a role as a substitute for coal.

The hydrate can only exist in stable form under the low-temperature, high-pressure conditions of the seabed. It's molecular structure is a cage-like lattice of ice inside which are trapped molecules of methane, the chief constituent of natural gas. When brought to the earth's surface, one cubic meter of gas hydrate releases 164 cubic meters of natural gas.

Hydrate deposits may be several hundred meters thick, and they have been found around the world. Estimates of worldwide reserves range from 280 trillion cubic meters (10,000 trillion cubic feet) up to 2,800 trillion cubic meters (100,000 trillion cubic feet), according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Japan, China, the U.S. and India have research underway on the fuel.

This new inventory of gas hydrate deposits was undertaken as part of MIGRATE (Marine Gas Hydrates: An Indigenous Resource of Natural Gas for Europe), a project funded by the European Commission and led by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel.

Professor Tim Minshull of the University of Southampton, who led a 31 strong-team from 14 countries, said: “We found that gas hydrate is particularly widespread around Svalbard, off Norway and in the Black Sea, but the hydrate systems have only been well investigated in a few areas, so there could be much still to discover.

“Exploiting gas hydrate deposits safely and efficiently presents challenges, for example, converting the hydrate to gas without using up too much energy. But several large feasibility projects are exploring these and other factors.”

The study authors note that the inventory has environmental value. If oceans warm due to climate change, hydrate may naturally melt, releasing methane which could change the chemical balance of the oceans. Mapping where this might happen will help scientists monitor progress.

The wreck of the Titanic will be treated with "sensitivity and respect" following a "momentous" international agreement, according to British Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani.

A treaty between the UK and the US gives the countries the power to grant or deny licences to enter sections of the sunken ship's hull and remove artefacts.

The passenger liner has been under water for more than a century, lying in international waters about 350 nautical miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.

Although the wreck has previously been given a "basic level of protection" by Unesco, the cultural organisation of the United Nations, this is the first time it is covered by explicit legislation.

The UK signed the treaty in 2003, but it has only come into force following its ratification by US secretary of state Mike Pompeo in November last year, the British Department for Transport said.

Canada and France were involved in the negotiations but have still not signed the agreement.

The Titanic was built in Belfast and set off on its maiden voyage from Southampton on 10 April 1912.

Five days later it struck an iceberg, broke apart and sank to the bottom of the North Atlantic.

Dozens of expeditions to the wreck have been carried out since it was discovered in 1985.

Experts claim many artefacts have been removed and the ship has suffered serious damage from mini-submarines landing on its surface.

Ms Ghani said: "Lying two and a half miles below the ocean surface, the RMS Titanic is the subject of the most documented maritime tragedy in history.

"This momentous agreement with the United States to preserve the wreck means it will be treated with the sensitivity and respect owed to the final resting place of more than 1,500 lives.

"The UK will now work closely with other North Atlantic states to bring even more protection to the wreck of the Titanic."

She will mark the signing of the treaty with the US by visiting the 1851 Trust Maritime Roadshow for Girls in Belfast.

The event aims to inspire girls to study science, technology, engineering and maths, known as Stem subjects, which are vital in the maritime sector.

Judith Owens, chief executive of visitor attraction Titanic Belfast, said: "We welcome any additional protection and safeguarding of the wreck, in line with the views of our strategic partner Dr Robert Ballard, who discovered her in 1985."

An ultra-large containership belonging to CMA CGM is bypassing the Suez Canal on its return trip to Asia, adding some 3,000 miles and five days to the journey as impacts of coronavirus and low oil prices ripple across the supply chains.

The 16,022 TEU capacity CMA CGM Alexander Von Humbolt last called in Algeciras, Spain on March 27 and was last tracked underway off of West Africa as of March 31. The vessel has a destination of Port Klang, Malaysia with an expected arrival of April 21, making for a total transit time of 26 days, as opposed to the typical 21-day transit.

The detour of the CMA CGM Alexander Von Humbolt was first pointed out by Lars Jensen, CEO of SeaIntelligence Consulting.

“The trip is more than 3000 nautical miles longer and the speed is increased by more than 2 knots for the journey despite the added 5 days to the schedule,” writes Lars in a post on LinkedIn.

CMA CGM Alexander Von Humbolt operates on the Ocean Alliance’s French Asia Line 1 (FAL 1). The eastbound leg of the route typically has ships travel through the Suez Canal after calling in northern Europe.

While unusual, re-routing ships around the southern tip of Africa and South America to avoid Suez Canal and Panama Canal tolls is not unheard of.

In 2015-2016, as the container shipping industry struggled with severe overcapacity and ultra-low bunker fuel prices, more than 100 vessels deployed on Asia-U.S. East Coast and Asia-North Europe services made backhaul trip to Asia by traveling around the Cape of Good Hope instead of the Suez route.

The re-routing of the Alexander Von Humbolt comes amid a historic crash in oil prices brought on by the coronavirus pandemic and the Russia-Saudi oil price war. Even though the ship will burn more fuel by taking the long way around, avoiding the high cost of the Suez Canal toll can in some instances actually make the trip more economical.

“The canal already has a 45-65% discount scheme for USEC vessels to prevent re-routing. A few days ago they announced a 6% discount for European vessels – but as is evident with the CMA vessel that is not sufficient to prevent round-Africa routings,” said Lars.

It wasn’t immediately clear if any of the other 11 vessels on the FAL 1 route were also being re-routed.

P&O Ferries suspends Dublin to Liverpool route until further notice due to payment dispute

P&O Ferries has suspended all sailings between Liverpool and Dublin until further notice following action taken by Mersey Docks & Harbour Company earlier today to prevent NORBAY leaving Liverpool. The freight orientated Ro-Pax ferry was already loaded for her usual sailing to Dublin this morning when she was detained as part of an ongoing payment dispute. Sister-ship NORBANK had loaded in Dublin but has now discharged the vehicles from her cargo decks. It is understood that much of the accompanied traffic due to cross with P&O today has transferred to the Dublin to Holyhead services offered by Irish Ferries and Stena Line instead.

Peel Ports subsidiary Mersey Docks & Harbours Company owns and administers the Port of Liverpool. Dubai-owned P&O Ferries claim that the company is demanding payment of a bill totally nearly £600,000 for the use of the port facilities. According to a report in the Liverpool Echo, P&O Ferries claims they actually only owe around two thirds of that figure. As reported on this site earlier today, P&O Ferries have said they have always remained committed to pay the money they owe in full and have asked for flexibility from port operators.

At the time of writing, NORBAY remains tied up at P&O Ferries usual berth at Gladstone Dock in the Liverpool dock system. The third ship on the route, CLIPPER PENNANT which is chartered from Seatruck, is also thought to be currently empty. Peel Ports have said that some of P&O’s claims are “factually inaccurate” and described the detention of NORBAY as a “last-resort”. The company has added that other services between Liverpool and both Dublin and Belfast continue to operate.