Introducing: Your Weekly Maritime Newsletter - Marinesthing Newsletter

Welcome to the first week of "Marinesthing Newsletter"! I'm thrilled to have you on board as we navigate the exciting world of maritime happenings.

Every week, we'll be bringing you the latest news, events, and developments from the maritime industry. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just someone with a passion for all things nautical, you'll find something of interest in these pages.

In this first edition, we'll be taking a closer look at some of the most significant maritime events from the past week. From new shipping lanes and trade agreements, to major advancements in technology and sustainability, we'll keep you informed and up-to-date on the latest developments.

I'd also like to take a moment to thank you for joining us on this journey. Your support means the world to us, and we're committed to providing you with the most informative and engaging content possible.

So, sit back, relax, and let's dive into the latest maritime happenings!

Hottest News

The US Navy and Coast Guard are Working Together to Get Back Pieces of a Chinese Spy Balloon

The US Navy and Coast Guard are working together to gather pieces of a Chinese spy balloon that was shot down by the US Air Force.

The balloon traveled all over the US, from the western mountains to the southeast, at a height of 60,000 feet. It even crossed into Canada before returning to US airspace.

It passed close to a US base where nuclear missiles are kept. The balloon was big, about the size of three buses.

The US government waited to shoot it down over water for safety reasons, even though some people wanted it to be shot down right away.

The balloon was shot down with a missile from an F-22 fighter jet near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Saturday.

Waiting may not have been solely for safety reasons. Defense officials in conversation with USNI mentioned that they aimed to gather intelligence from any parts that might endure the impact in shallow waters.

To swiftly accomplish this, three Navy ships- destroyer USS Oscar Austin, cruiser USS Philippine Sea, and amphib USS Carter Hall - were deployed to the site along with Coast Guard cutters and supporting vessels.

Some of these assets are equipped with ROVs, dive teams, and FBI counterintelligence officers to recover and analyze the wreckage.

The Chinese government claims the balloon was intended for meteorological purposes and veered off course. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the act of shooting it down on Sunday as an "evident excessive reaction and a blatant breach of international norms."

The occurrence took place as Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was set to travel to Beijing for discussions on U.S.-China economic relations, leading political analysts to question the timing, considering that China's spy satellites could gather the same information without inciting a diplomatic conflict. As a result, Blinken ultimately cancelled his trip.

Japanese Cargo Ship Capsizes and Sinks After Collision

Two Japanese cargo ships collided while passing through the Kurushima Strait in the Seto Inland Sea on the night of February 2nd, causing one of the ships to capsize and eventually sink.

Three crew members were rescued, while the captain and first officer were reported missing and the search was ongoing.

TV footage seems to indicate that at least one death occurred. The other ship was damaged but managed to reach port safely with no injuries to the four crew on board.

The Japan Coast Guard Imabari station received reports of the collision at 7:30 p.m. local time on February 2nd and sent a patrol boat, with assistance from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and nearby fishing vessels.

The Kurushima Strait, which is a heavily trafficked sea lane, is known for its challenging navigation due to the shifting tidal current.

The direction of the current can impact navigation, causing it to change from one side of the strait to the other.

The strait has witnessed several accidents in the past, including a collision between a cargo ship and tanker in May 2021 that claimed three lives.

Adani Group To Transform Haifa Port With USD 1.2 Billion

On January 31st, Adani Group of India and Haifa Port in Israel made a deal where Adani bought the port for 1.2 billion dollars.

The company wants to improve the city with technology, so they will create an AI laboratory in Tel Aviv. Adani has been working with Israeli companies like the Israel Innovation Authority, Israel Weapon System, and Elbit Systems over the past six years.

They worked with Gadot, a regional logistics and chemical group.

The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the owner of Adani Group, Gautam Adani, said the deal was important and would bring investment to both countries.

Netanyahu compared Indian soldiers who helped liberate Haifa in World War I to Indian investors liberating the port now.

Adani plans to improve the real estate at the Haifa port and change the city's skyline.

Actions by IMO Last Week

Underwater Noise- A major Problem

Once upon a time, the waters of the world were calm and serene, with only the gentle sounds of waves lapping against the shore and the occasional chirping of marine life breaking the silence.

But as shipping traffic increased, so did the amount of noise that was being generated underwater.

The constant hum of ship engines, propellers, and other machinery was having a profound impact on the aquatic world.

Marine animals, like whales, dolphins, and seals, rely on sound to communicate, hunt for food, and navigate their way through the ocean.

The constant barrage of underwater noise from ships was making it difficult for these creatures to hear each other and was causing them stress and confusion. It was also making it more difficult for them to find food, as they were unable to hear the sounds of their prey.

In addition to affecting marine life, underwater noise was also causing harm to underwater habitats.

The sound waves generated by ships were destroying delicate coral reefs and disrupting the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

This was making it difficult for plants and animals to thrive, and was leading to a decline in the overall health of the ocean.

IMO introduce regulations aimed at reducing the amount of noise generated by ships. Some of these regulations included limiting the speed of ships, requiring ships to use quieter propulsion systems, and even requiring ships to be equipped with special sound-dampening technology.

Draft revised Guidelines for the reduction of underwater noise from commercial shipping to address adverse impacts on marine life have been agreed by the IMO Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC 9), which met 23-27 January.

The draft guidelines recognize that commercial shipping is one of the main contributors to underwater radiated noise (URN) which has adverse effects on critical life functions for a wide range of marine life, including marine mammals, fish and invertebrate species, upon which many coastal Indigenous communities depend for their food, livelihoods and cultures.

The draft revised guidelines provide an overview of approaches applicable to designers, shipbuilders and ship operators to reduce the underwater radiated noise of any given ship. They are intended to assist relevant stakeholders in establishing mechanisms and programmes through which noise reduction efforts can be realized.

The draft guidelines revise the previous guidelines (issued in 2014). They include updated technical knowledge, including reference to international measurement standards, recommendations and classification society rules. They also provide sample templates to assist shipowners with the development of an underwater radiated noise management plan.

The draft guidelines will now be submitted to the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 80), which meets from 3-7 July 2023, for approval.

The draft guidelines were developed by a correspondence group with further work completed by a working group which met during the Sub-Committee session.

The correspondence group was re-established, to report back to SDC 10 in January 2024, to address the remaining work under the agenda item. It was, in particular, tasked with revising a flowchart on the URN Noise Management Planning process to reflect the Revised Guidelines, and the underwater noise management plan included in appendix 3, to be used as a tool for raising awareness. The group will also finalize and prioritize the provisional list of suggested next steps to further prevent and reduce underwater radiated noise from ships.

The Sub-Committee agreed a work plan which envisages, among other things, identifying ways to implement the Revised Guidelines and increase awareness and uptake; organizing an expert workshop on potential co-benefits and trade-offs that may exist between the reduction of underwater radiated noise from ships and energy efficiency; and developing a plan of action for further work.

Underwater noise in Inuit Nunaat and the Arctic

The revised draft guidelines include reference to Inuit Nunaat, saying that, in Inuit Nunaat, a number of characteristics of the region and the activities within could increase the impacts from underwater radiated noise. This includes potential for icebreaking activities, presence of noise-sensitive species, and potential interference with indigenous hunting rights.

Additional efforts to decrease impacts on marine wildlife are advisable for ships that operate in these areas, including particular attention to reducing the noise impact from icebreaking and implementation of operational approaches and monitoring.

In addition, the working group developed separate draft guidelines for underwater radiated noise reduction in Inuit Nunaat and the Arctic, with a view to being utilized in the future by interested parties.

These draft guidelines recognize that Inuit Nunaat is a unique environment and adverse impacts to marine wildlife in this area from shipping noise may be significantly increased as a result. Sound levels throughout Inuit Nunaat are lower than elsewhere, making it more vulnerable to increases from industrial activity.

The draft text was noted by the Sub-Committee.

GloNoise project

IMO’s Department of Partnerships and Projects (DPP) later this year will commence a two-year GEF-UNDP-IMO project called the Global Partnership for Mitigation of Underwater Noise from Shipping (GloNoise Partnership), which is aligned with the current work on the review of the Guidelines for the reduction of underwater noise (MEPC.1/Circ.833) (pending approval by MEPC 80, these will then become the Revised Guidelines) and to consider next steps.

The GloNoise Partnership will establish a global stakeholders’ partnership in order to address the major environmental issue of underwater noise from shipping. The partnership will include a strong developing countries’ element as well as public-private engagement.

The specific objective of the GloNoise Partnership is to assist developing countries and regions to raise awareness, to build capacity and to collect information to assist the policy dialogue on anthropogenic underwater noise from shipping. To support this process, data and analysis tools and capacity building materials will be developed, rolled out and implemented globally and in the participating countries.

Cruise Ship Updates

Fire Breaks Out On A Cruise Ship Docked In Sydney Harbour

A fire broke out on a cruise vessel in Sydney Harbour which was carrying 600 passengers.

Fire and Rescue NSW were reportedly called to the White Bay Cruise Terminal close to 8.10 am on Friday after reports of a fire breaking out on the Viking Orion vessel.

It is further understood the fire impacted a guest cabin of the vessel.

The blaze was reportedly extinguished at close to 8.40 am.

Paramedics were at the scene, and it was understood that no one had been injured in the incident.

The Viking Orion has a capacity for 930 passengers and was expected to arrive on Saturday in Melbourne.

Viking Cruises informed Daily Mail Australia that the fire would likely begin from an electric issue.

The fire was extinguished in minutes by the crew members, and there weren’t any injuries, a spokesperson informed.

Viking is looking into the incident, and initial reports suggest that the cause of the fire was likely electrical, probably resulting from a corded device.

Scheduled operations have continued. No disruptions to the current voyage are expected.

And that's a wrap for this week's newsletter! We hope you found the information helpful. Make sure to follow us on our social media platforms for more updates and news. See you next week!

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Thank you for reading, and we look forward to connecting with you again next week! Don't forget to follow us on our social media platforms for the latest updates and insights. Have a great week ahead!