Maritime Vessels Directory

Norway stopped all cruise ships with more than 100 people on board from disembarking at its ports from Monday, after an outbreak of COVID-19 was reported late last week on a ship that had already disembarked at the port of Tromsoe.At least 41 passengers and crew who were on board the cruise ship MS Roald Amundsen, operated by Norwegian company Hurtigruten, have so far tested positive for the coronavirus, while hundreds more on board were told to self-isolate for 10 days, local public health officials said on Sunday.Norway is in touch with Germany, Denmark, Austria, Philippines and Latvia as passengers and crew on board came from these countries, officials said.

Lower Mississippi River to be Deepened to 50 Feet

an hour ago

The ports at Baton Rouge, New Orleans, South Louisiana, St. Bernard and Plaquemines are slated to have deep draft access after Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and other state officials signed a formal agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Friday to begin construction on the deepening of the Lower Mississippi River to 50 feet from 45 feet. The overall project will provide a draft of 50-feet from the Port of Baton Rouge to the Gulf of Mexico over 256 miles of the Mississippi River.

Ship Believed to Have Spilled Oil off Venezuela

3 hours ago

An oil slick washed up over the weekend on the coastline of Venezuela's western Falcon state, known for pristine beaches and nature preserves, two opposition lawmakers said on Monday, though there was no official comment on the spill's provenance.Maria Hernandez, who chairs the opposition-held National Assembly's environmental committee, said she was concerned about the effect of pollution on marine life as well as water supplies onshore.A satellite image posted on Twitter by vessel tracking service TankerTrackers.com showed the black slick approaching the coast just south of Morrocoy National Park, known for palm-lined beaches and mangrove swamps.

75 Flee Sinking Cruise Ferry in Thailand

3 hours ago

All passengers and crew managed to escape from a sinking passenger vessel on Thailand's Chao Phraya River on Sunday evening, The National Thailand reports. The three-story vessel High Season 1 was said to be carrying 60 passengers, mostly Thai and Chinese tourists, plus 15 crew when it sank near a private pier in Soi Somdet Chaophraya 1 in Bangkok’s Khlong San district. There were no reported injuries or damage to property or the environment.“The ship made a U-turn to return to the hotel when it reached Phra Pok Klao Bridge.

Venezuela's Oil Exports Stagnant in July

5 hours ago

Venezuela exported about 388,100 barrels per day of crude and fuel in July, almost unchanged versus the previous month, as U.S. sanctions on PDVSA continued limiting sales, according to Refinitiv Eikon and internal data from the state-run company.Washington has ramped up pressure this year on PDVSA’s customers, trade partners and shippers aiming to stop the re-sale of Venezuelan oil and block efforts to hide or change its country of origin.That is making it increasingly difficult for many of the company’s clients to find tankers for transporting the oil.

Maritime Reporter and Engineering News (July 2020)

Maritime Power Edition